Betty Sue Stephens

Funeral services for Betty Sue Stephens, 93, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, May 7, 2017 at First United Methodist Church, Christian Life Center, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Stephens passed away from a beautiful life at 7:51 p.m., Monday, May 1, 2017, at her home.

She was born December 28, 1923, in Howell County, Missouri, to Otmar E. Stephens and Susie Coats Stephens.  Betty grew up in West Plains, graduating with the Class of 1942; here she met and married her other half, James, and they shared sixty-four happy years, working together and raising a family.  Their children were the joy of her life.  She treasured time with them and her well loved grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.  Along with farming beside James, Betty worked at Ozark Action for several years, then drove a bulk milk route.  She and James had a dump truck business for twenty-five years, which she continued to run until age ninety when she sold the truck.  Sunday dinner with family gathered around her table was a tradition Betty kept all of her years and often included her many nieces, nephews and friends that she held close.  She was passionate about family time, playing sports, waterskiing and riding four wheelers.  Betty loved fishing, and was ready to go anytime the boys went and helped clean and cook the catch.  She had a green thumb and enjoyed sharing her garden produce, salsa, strawberry jam and possum grape jelly.  Betty loved her First United Methodist Church family, attended Joy Group and looked forward to volunteer opportunities.

She is survived by five children, Karen Garner and husband, Bob, Ron Stephens, Terry Stephens and wife, Sharon, Jodie Ficken and husband, Jim and Greg Stephens and wife, Renee, all of West Plains; son-in-law, Craig Baker, Jonesboro, Arkansas; twelve grandchildren; twenty-three great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Otmar (Doc) Stephens and wife, Sarah, Yellville, Arkansas; two sisters, Mary Jo McManus, West Plains and Dottie Moody, Fairview Heights, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews.

Loved ones going before her are her parents, husband, daughter, Kim Baker and two brothers, Gene and John, precede her in death.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Saturday, at Langston Street Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Stuart Union Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Stuart Union Cemetery or First United Methodist Church and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.