Leroy Eugene Stephens
Leroy Eugene Stephens, 89, of Decatur, Ark., died June 25, 2023, at Siloam Springs Health and Rehab.
He was born Dec. 1, 1933, in the Ozark hills of Southwest Missouri, out on Huckleberry Special, down Skaggs Holler Road, to Clifford and Emmeline (Cargile) Stephens.
On April 23, 1954, he married Mary Ruth Daughterty. They resided 14 years in Scotia, Calif., where he worked at Pacific Lumber Company before moving to northwest Arkansas in 1970. He worked for Daisy, Emerson, then Union Carbide in Rogers, Ark., until he retired in 1990. He also drove a bus for the Rogers School District and Neosho Schools. He played the piano for over 50 years in area churches and sang. He enjoyed piecing quilt tops and making quilts for family and friends. He enjoyed looking up Stephens' genealogy and organized a Stephens' reunion every year until covid.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 59 years, Mary Ruth Stephens; a son, Jimmy Leroy Stephens; a granddaughter, Jennifer Stephens; four brothers, Junior, Paul, Larry and Bob Stephens; two sisters, Maxine Leuellen, Mary Ann Finney.
He is survived by his son, Terry Stephens (Kathy) of Decatur, Ark.; a daughter, Norma McCullough (Fred, Jr.) of Bentonville, Ark.; daughter-in-law, Frankie Stephens of Gravette, Ark.; five grandchildren; a sister, Irene Williams of Grove, Okla.; brothers, Robert Stephens (Mary) of Pineville, Joe Stephens (Jan) of Seneca.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at the Decatur Assembly of God Church, 735 N. Main Street in Decatur, Ark., with Pastor Ken Robinson officiating.
Arrangements were by Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Mo.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.ozarkfuneralhome.com.