Norma Stevens

NORMA MAE STEVENS Norma Mae Stevens of rural Caney went to be with her Lord on Sunday, Dec. 26, at Jane Phillips Hospital in Bartlesville, Okla., following a short illness. She was 77. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at the First Baptist Church with burial set in Sunnyside Cemetary, both of Caney. Pastor Dan DeWitt will officiate. Friends may call at the Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., Coffeyville, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29. Family will receive guests Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church of Caney building fund and may be left at the funeral home. Mrs. Stevens was born Dec. 7, 1927, in Collinsville, Okla., to Norman Oscar and Wilma Pauline Ramsey Owens. She graduated high school from College High, Bartlesville, Okla., and attended Coffeyville Community College. On Nov. 1, 1946 she married Chester Leo Stevens, Sr. at Journey Cake Baptist Church, Dewey, Okla. Mrs. Stevens was employed by City Publishing, Independence for 12 years and then employed by First Baptist Church, Coffeyville, for 12 years, retiring in 1987. Mrs. Stevens was a member of the Caney First Baptist Church since 1951 and served as a Sunday School teacher for all ages. There, she served as the president for the American Baptist Women of First Baptist in Caney from 1993-2002 and was the contact person the last two years. She also spent two years as reporter. Mrs. Stevens served on the board for the American Baptist Womens Ministries of the Central Region. During her time of service, she fulfilled the positions of coordinator of Personal Development Ministries, Green Lake delegate, Vice President of Leadership Development and was a conference committee member. Other capacities in her Christian ministry included president of the Crawford Association, of which she also served as coordinator of Church and Community, secretary, recording secretary, spiritual growth chairman. She was also on the board of managers. Mrs. Stevens is survived by her husband, Chester, of the home; two sons, Chester Leo Stevens, Jr. and wife Debbie of Owasso, Okla., and Bradley E. Stevens and wife Sherry of Oxford; two daughters, Judith G. Thomas and husband Larry L. of Carl Junction, Mo., and Marlene F. Smith and husband Michael D. of Claremore, Okla. Grandchildren include Brian M. Thomas of Independence; Kristin R. Pennington and Mack of McKinney, Texas; Justin M. Smith and Jennifer of Claremore, Okla.; Chad D. Thomas of Carl Junction, Mo.; Derek L. Thomas and Meaghan of Carl Junction, Mo.; Sarah N. Smith and fiancee Teddy Galligher of Bartlesville, Okla.; Kendra E. Potucek and Ryan of Wichita; Travis Leo Stevens of Norman, Okla.; Kari S. White and Jeremy of Derby; Craig A. Thomas of Carl Junction, Mo.; Chet Bradley Stevens of Oxford; and three great-grandchildren, Baker and Baylor Smith and Mason Pennington. Other survivors include her mother, Wilma P. Owens; brothers Davis D. Owens and JoAnn of Coffeyville; NormanCecil Owens of Wann, Okla.; and her sister Alice A. Egbert of Wichita.