Gladys Marie Nesmith Stephens
Gladys Marie Nesmith Stephens was born August 13, 1923 in Lindsay, Oklahoma to Virgil and Celia (Smith) Nesmith. She passed from this life December 31, 2012 in Greensboro, North Carolina at the age of 89. She married Bill Stephens in April of 1941 and moved to Duncan, Oklahoma. Gladys was a graduate of Duncan High School and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts.
She grew up in Elmore City area, married and raised her children in Duncan, Ryan, and Waurika. During the past 20 years she has spent her winters on Palm Island in Florida. She was a teacher in the Migrant Education Program for Waurika Public Schools. She was a member of Palm Island Estates Civic Association and Oklahoma Retired Teachers Association. She was raised as a Baptist and she was a strong believer in education. She obtained her high school degree while she had five children at home by attending night school. She graduated from high school with her oldest son. Her husband, Bill encouraged her to continue her education by attending college. Having his support she completed college with a degree in education. Teaching children in the Waurika School System was a profession that she loved, and the children she taught were "her children". She started a new chapter when she retired from the school system and moved to a small island in Florida. There she made many friends and greatly enjoyed the bird life, the beach and the gorgeous sunsets. She loved a party and few notes of music could always be counted on to bring a spark to her eye and a shuffle to her step. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends but we know she is " Dancing with my Father again".
She is survived by her son - George Douglas Stephens, daughters - Sandra Stephens and Ron Marion of Greensboro, North Carolina and Deborah Stephens Lietzke and Bob Thompson of Bridgeton, New Jersey and daughters in law Monica Bartlett Stephens and Jimmie Ruth Seay Stephens, grandchildren - Jason Stephens, Cade Stephens, Jamie Stephens St. Peter and husband Jerry, Ashley Stephens Averhoff and husband Cody, Charlee Stephens Williams and husband Luke, Justine Stephens Oney and husband Bo, Dannye Stephens, Heather Lietzke Diakos and husband Andrew, Shannon Lietzke, Jessup Clawson and wife Annie, and Jacob Marion, Great - Grandchildren - Lylah, Beckham, and Sonoma St. Peter, Wyatt and Weston Averhoff, Joshua Williams, Anabelle Oney, and Anderson Diakos.
She was preceded in death by husbnd W.C. Bill Stephens; sons - Andy Stephens and Blly Max Stephens; her parents - Celia and Virgil Nesmith; sisters - Annie Tomlinson, Jane Massagee, Wanda Nesmith and Wilda Dutton; brothers - Raymond Nesmith and Leo Nesmith and brother-in-law D.F. Fleet Stephens.
Funeral service for Mrs. Stephens will be Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 2:00PM at Dudley Funeral Home Chapel in Waurika with Rodney Dutton officiating. Burial will be in the Ryan Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Ron Marion, Charles Dutton, Jason Stephens, Cade Stephens, Luke Williams, and Bo Oney.
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