Lois Ruth Upshaw Stephens passed away in Burleson on April 18, 2017 exactly on her 100th birthday. Mrs. Stephens had been a long time resident of Abilene until health issues forced her to relocate to Crowley to be near family.

Lois was born April 18, 1917 to Samuel R. and Ethel (Lauderdale) Upshaw, Sr. She grew up in De Leon where she married Donald W. Stephens, Sr. in 1938. The couple moved their family from De Leon to Abilene in 1954 where her husband passed away in 1978.

Mrs. Stephens was a lifelong member of the Christian Church. At an early age she studied piano and served as pianist for various congregations in De Leon and Abilene.

She is survived by a son, Donald W. Stephens, Jr. and wife of Georgetown; daughter, Carolyn K. Smith of Crowley; and son, Kenneth R. Stephens and wife of Boulder, Colorado. She leaves six living grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Gloria Burnett of Everman.

She was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother, Roxie Locke Upshaw, a long resident of De Leon; husband; infant daughter, Nancy Jo Stephens; brothers, Reese Upshaw, Jr. of De Leon and James E. Upshaw of Fort Worth; sisters, Myrtle Upshaw Locke of De Leon and Juanita Upshaw Hyde of Ft. Worth.

Graveside funeral services were held Friday, April 21, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in De Leon Cemetery. Mrs. Stephens was laid to rest next to her husband and infant daughter.