Families, Biographies and Obituaries

Obituaries

Robert Stephenson Obituary
7-5-1984

"Robert E. L. Stephenson died at Fort Lyons Veteran's Hospital June 15, 1984. Graveside services were held Tuesday June 19 at 2 p.m. with burial in Fort Lyon National Cemetery.

Stephenson was born Jan. 22, 1909 in Covington, Ky, to William S. and Jessie (Clark) Stephenson. He attended school in Ordway and returned here after his discharge from the U.S. Army.

Stephenson is survived by his brothers Herman Stephenson of Ordway, Jack Stephenson of Pueblo, Clarence Stephenson of Texas and Albert Stephenson of Denver and his sisters Dorothy Lawler and Mildred Tamura, both of Denver, as well as by Jennie Vancil and Iris Stephenson, both of Ordway, and several nieces and nephews."

Apparently, the Stephenson family were long time residents of Ordway. I would like more information about him right after WWII. I spent time in Ordway in 1945-1946 as a young child and my mother and family knew him. He ran a welding or machine shop in Ordway and loved to fish in the local lake which he did in a boat constructed out of airplane gas tanks. I went on numerous trips with him for catfish (Bullheads).
 
Jim Nutting
 
SERVICES FOR WM. STEPHENSON

Graveside services for William Stephenson, 91, a resident of Colorado 61 years were held at 10 A.M. Friday, Jan. 14, at Roselawn Cemetery, Pueblo. T. G. McCarthy Funeral Homes was in charge of final arrangements.

Mr. Stephenson died Jan. 11 at Crowley County Nursing Center in Ordway, where he had lived since October.

He was born Jan. 14, 1880 at Mooresville, Morgan, IN. to William M. and Elizabeth Stephenson and was married to Jessie C. Clark of Greenfield, IN in 1902. William liked to play baseball, but there was a law forbidding the game to be played in Indianapolis on Sun Sunday, so everyone playing would go to Greenfield to pay and that is where he met Jessie Clark. After marriage they lived in Addyston, Ohio on the Ohio River where he worked in the Dane Marine Engines, before coming to Avondale, CO in 1911 to farm with his brother Edward, and then after being rained out, he moved to Crowley in 1913 to farm and again being rained out he through up his hands and claimed that farming wasn't for him so he went to Ordway way to open a blacksmith shop where he lived all the rest of his life except for five years in Rocky Ford in a nursing home. He was a machinist and had his own shop many years.

Survivors include his widow; five sons, Herman and Robert of Ordway, Albert of Denver, Will R. (Jack) of Pueblo, and Clarence of Grants, NM; three daughters, Hilda Walker of Colorado Springs, Dorothy Lawler and Mildred Tamura both of Denver; a sister Meda Andis of Ordway. There are 34 grandchildren and 56 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews, including Wilbur Andis of Ordway.

His brother Edward Elzy, eight children and five grandchildren preceded him death.
 
The Ordway New Era, dated September 19, 1974, submitted by Pauline Stephenson

 MRS. STEPHENSON RITES IN PUEBLO
 Funeral services were held last Thursday for Mrs. Jessie C. Stephenson, who died Sept. 9 in Pueblo hospital at the age of 89. The Rev. William P. Oakley, pastor of First Southern Church, officiated at rites held at 11:00 A. M. in the T. G. Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in the family plot in the Roselawn Cemetery at Pueblo. Daughter of Canada and Alice Clark, she was born at Greenfield, IN Nov. 23, 1884 and was married to William Stephenson in 1902. They lived in Indiana and Kentucky before coming to Avondale, Colo. in 1911 and the to Crowley County in 1913. Except for five years in Rock Ford, her home was in Ordway. Her husband preceded her in death Jan 11, 1972. Survivors include five sons, Herman and Robert of Ordway, Albert H. (Buzz) of Denver, William R. (Jack) of Pueblo, and Clarence of Grants, N.M.; three daughters, Hilda Walker of Colorado Springs, Dorothy Lawler and Mildred Tamura, both of Denver; a sister Mrs. Ruth James of Indianapolis, IN; 34 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.  


FORMER ORDWAY MAN DIED AT BELLS, TX
 Services for Clarence "Steve" Stephenson, 61
, retired auto mechanic of Bells, TX, were held at the Rose Hill cemetery there July 10. Mr. Stephenson died in his sleep at his home at Bells July 7. He was born Dec. 29, 1922 in Ordway, son of William and Jessie Clark Stephenson. He was married to Vina Wilson Feb. 1, 1943 in Rocky Ford. A veteran of World War II, he has lived in Bells past seven years. Surviving are his widow, tow sons, Steve of Bells, and Larry of Houston; three brothers, Herman of Ordway, Albert "Buzz" of Denver and William R. "Jack" of Pueblo; three sisters Hilda Walker of Anaheim, CA, Dorothy Lawler of Denver and Mildred Tamura of Arvada; two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. 
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert R. "Bob" Stephenson of Ordway on June 15, who died at Ft. Lyon VA Hospital and was buried June 19 at Ft. Lyon National Cemetery, Bob Stephenson was also a veteran of World War II.
 

Obit for Charles Stephenson
 Charles Canada Stephenson died August 12 at his home at 1033 Front Street, Louisville, after a lengthy illness. He was 64.  He was born July 26 1907 in Newport, KY, to William and Jessie Stephenson. On Feb. 24, 1935, he married June Steele in Ordway. Moving from Berthoud to Louisville this year, he was a security guard with Bonded Security Service in Boulder. Survivors include his wife, three sons; Jim of Pueblo; Jerry of Akron; and Roy Jay of Sterling; five daughters; Jean Carlson, Fort Collins; Joan Alishouse, Akron, Jackie Bishopand June Radovid of Pueblo; and Joyce Alvarez, Colorado Springs; five brothers; Herman and Robert of Ordway, Alter of Denver, Jack of Pueblo, and Clarence of Grants, N.M.; three sisters; Hilda Walker of Colorado Springs, Dorothy Lawler and Mildred Tamura of Denver; and 20 grandchildren. 
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on August 16 in Louisville Cemetery, Crist Mortuaries is handling arrangements.

Obit for Herman G. Stephenson,
83, Rites Wednesday Funeral services for Herman Gilbert Stephenson, 83, long-time resident of Ordway, will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at T. G. McCarthy Burial Chapel in Pueblo, with burial Roselawn Cemetery. Pueblo Visitation 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and until time of service Wednesday. Chapel is located at Goodnight and Prairie Ave. Pueblo. Mr. Stephenson died Saturday in La Junta Medical Center Nursing Care Center. He was born at Greenfield, IN on March 9, 1903 and came to Colorado at age seven and Crowley County in 1913. He was married to Ruby Henry Peterie Nov. 28, 1942 in Tribune, KS. He is survived by his widow, Ruby of Ordway; daughter Judith (can't read last name) of Swink; son, Harold (Kathryn) Stephenson , La Junta; step-sons, John R. Peterie of Bullhead City, AZ; Charles D. Peterie, Colorado Springs; Earl (Dorothy) Peterie of Phoenix, AZ. 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; brothers, Albert H. Stephenson of Ordway; W.R. (Jack) Stephenson of Pueblo, and sisters Hilda J. (wrong middle initial) Walker, Ordway; Dorothy (Henry) Lawler, and Mildred (Tom) Tamura, both of Denver. He was preceded in death by two sons, his parents, six brother and four sisters. Family respectfully requests the omission of food. Family may be contacted at 267-3485. T. G. McCarthy Funeral Home is in charge.  
 


BUZZ STEPHENSON, 86,
MEMORIAL SET Service of remembrance for Albert H. "Buzz" Stephenson, 86, of Ordway, will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Griffy Family Funeral Home Chapel in Ordway. Pastor Darrell Blanton of First Christian Church of Ordway will officiate. At his request, there was cremation at Southern Colorado Crematorium in Pueblo. Private inurnment of cremains will follow at a later date in Valley View Cemetery, Ordway. Mr. Stephenson died Sunday at Crowley County Nursing Center. He was born March 24, 1914, at Crowley to William Stephenson and Jessie Clark. He lived in the area, then went to Denver and traveled with his work as a machinist. He returned to Ordway and lived at Country Manor, then became a resident of Crowley County Nursing Center in 1997. He is survived a son, Roy Stephenson of Arlingten, WA; brother, William Richard "Jack" of Pueblo, and sister Mildred Tamura of Denver; several grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Iris Arnot Stephenson; six brothers and two sisters. Griffy Family Funeral Home in Ordway is in charge of arrangements.  Per his sister Mildred, Buzz was 88 when he died not 86.

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