John Frank Stevens-obit
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John Frank Stevens-obit
| janet_wasson (View posts) | Posted: 12 Feb 2008 1:35PM GMT |
Classification: Query
As printed in the Deming Headlight-Deming,NM
02/07/2008
John Frank Stevens, 91, Deming resident, passed away Monday, February 4, 2008 at Sierra Health Care Center in Truth or Consequences.
A memorial service will be this morning, Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 10:30 at the Ninth Street Church of Christ with Jeff LupPlace officiating. Cremation will take place at Baca's Mimbres Crematory.
Born January 15, 1917 in Elevenpoint, Arkansas to David Crockett Stevens and Mary Emma Davis. He spent his childhood farming in Elevenpoint, with his mother and father "Crockett", his 6 sisters and one brother. From 1940 to 1941 he worked in the CCC, building concrete irrigation ditches in Ontario, Oregon. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 13, 1941 and served in Seward, Alaska guarding the coast line during WW II, protecting our US borders from Japanese invasion. During his years of military service he earned and was awarded the AP Service Ribbon, Bronze Service Star, American Defense and Service Ribbon, and the Bronze Star. His final year of service was spent as a platoon sergeant in an infantry replacement training center, where he maintained discipline and taught recruits the basic rules of soldiering and rifle marksmanship.
Before his discharge, he married a hometown girl named Edna Lucille Peterson, on April 13, 1944 in Pocahontas, Arkansas. His final day of military service was September 30, 1945 and he began his civilian life using skills he learned in the military and growing up on a farm.
He served as Post Master and ran a general store in Elevenpoint, Arkansas for 2 years. For a period of time he had many jobs in iron working and carpenter work, and even had a farm with dairy cattle and sold cream and milk products.
Then in January 1961, John Frank Stevens relocated to Deming, NM to begin his career as a general contractor putting his talents in carpentry to work to make a living. He began the "Stevens Woodcrafting" business in 1975 and specialized in custom kitchen cabinets. In 1976, he sold his business to his son Stanley Stevens and continued to work with his son until 1991.
At that time he went into semi-retirement but continued to do the thing he enjoyed most, wood crafting. He created and built custom furniture for friends and family members for many years. He enjoyed helping others by donating his time, money and talents to those in need. He spent the rest of his days at home with "the finest woman he ever met" his wife Lucille until he slipped away from us. Throughout his life he was known for his strength in body and character and did an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. He had a wonderful sense of humor, sharing stories from the good ole days that made us laugh till we cried, and a charming nature that won the hearts of children.
He was a member of the Ninth Street Church of Christ where some things made by him including the communion table are still used today.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years Lucille, sons, Stanley and his wife Chris, Dale and his wife Anna, all of Deming; grandchildren, Laura Garcia, Mark Stevens, Angela Stevens, Autumn Harmon and their spouses, 6 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels and Baca's Mimbres Crematory of Deming
02/07/2008
John Frank Stevens, 91, Deming resident, passed away Monday, February 4, 2008 at Sierra Health Care Center in Truth or Consequences.
A memorial service will be this morning, Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 10:30 at the Ninth Street Church of Christ with Jeff LupPlace officiating. Cremation will take place at Baca's Mimbres Crematory.
Born January 15, 1917 in Elevenpoint, Arkansas to David Crockett Stevens and Mary Emma Davis. He spent his childhood farming in Elevenpoint, with his mother and father "Crockett", his 6 sisters and one brother. From 1940 to 1941 he worked in the CCC, building concrete irrigation ditches in Ontario, Oregon. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on February 13, 1941 and served in Seward, Alaska guarding the coast line during WW II, protecting our US borders from Japanese invasion. During his years of military service he earned and was awarded the AP Service Ribbon, Bronze Service Star, American Defense and Service Ribbon, and the Bronze Star. His final year of service was spent as a platoon sergeant in an infantry replacement training center, where he maintained discipline and taught recruits the basic rules of soldiering and rifle marksmanship.
Before his discharge, he married a hometown girl named Edna Lucille Peterson, on April 13, 1944 in Pocahontas, Arkansas. His final day of military service was September 30, 1945 and he began his civilian life using skills he learned in the military and growing up on a farm.
He served as Post Master and ran a general store in Elevenpoint, Arkansas for 2 years. For a period of time he had many jobs in iron working and carpenter work, and even had a farm with dairy cattle and sold cream and milk products.
Then in January 1961, John Frank Stevens relocated to Deming, NM to begin his career as a general contractor putting his talents in carpentry to work to make a living. He began the "Stevens Woodcrafting" business in 1975 and specialized in custom kitchen cabinets. In 1976, he sold his business to his son Stanley Stevens and continued to work with his son until 1991.
At that time he went into semi-retirement but continued to do the thing he enjoyed most, wood crafting. He created and built custom furniture for friends and family members for many years. He enjoyed helping others by donating his time, money and talents to those in need. He spent the rest of his days at home with "the finest woman he ever met" his wife Lucille until he slipped away from us. Throughout his life he was known for his strength in body and character and did an honest day's work for an honest day's pay. He had a wonderful sense of humor, sharing stories from the good ole days that made us laugh till we cried, and a charming nature that won the hearts of children.
He was a member of the Ninth Street Church of Christ where some things made by him including the communion table are still used today.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years Lucille, sons, Stanley and his wife Chris, Dale and his wife Anna, all of Deming; grandchildren, Laura Garcia, Mark Stevens, Angela Stevens, Autumn Harmon and their spouses, 6 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapels and Baca's Mimbres Crematory of Deming