Edward Silvester Stevens Jr.

Our loving Daddy, Edward Silvester Stevens, "Jr.",86, reunited with our precious Mother, Jo Ellen Haddock Stevens when he went to his heavenly home Friday, March 19, 2021.  Dr. Clyde Haltom brought him into this world Sunday, July 15, 1934, to Edward Silvester and Amy Bell Blanchard Stevens, Sr., Jonesboro, Craighead County, Arkansas.  The eldest of thirteen children, he grew up in the Jonesboro/Cash/Egypt areas but also was from the Round Mountain Community in Stone County.

Talking to him one wouldn't realize he had only a 2nd grade education.  (On his eighth birthday his father gave him a cigarette and told him he had to help support the family.)  People came from all walks of life to get his advice/help in solving problems.  He was considered very smart and highly respected.

The first time Daddy saw Momma, he drove past her walking down the road.  He told his friend, she was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen and was going to marry her.  He backed up, asked her for a date and they were together from then on.  They married November 21, 1955 in Craighead County, Arkansas and had ten children and adopted two.

Daddy, a jack-of-all-trades according to him, and Momma always made certain we had what we needed regardless where we lived.  Homebase was usually within a fifty mile radius of Jonesboro and Big Flat.  They had a cafe in Lake City between 1959-61.  We chopped cotton in the spring, followed the fruit harvest and back to Arkansas to pick cotton.  In winter, Daddy worked at whatever job was available  He worked as Riceland Foods in Jonesboro and Weiner and for local farmers.  In the mid to late 1960's he worked as maintenance and truck driver for Del Monte in Frankfort, Indiana and at a salvage yard in Indianapolis.  In February 1969 we moved to Round Mountain to help care for Momma's brother.  Spring of 1970, we followed the fruit harvest finishing in Coloma, Michigan.  Then landed in Jonesboro in November where Daddy established a garbage pick-up service for places not serviced by the city of Jonesboro.  We were able-bodied workers - if not quite willing.  We didn't dare sass or backtalk.  When not working the garbage routes, we threw/stacked hay, threw melons, fed cattle, mowed yards, junked old cars, picked up soda bottles/cans, cut wood, etc. to help provide for the family.  Daddy knew how to keep his kids busy

Moving to Mountain View in 1979 then to Round Mountain Community, Daddy, one not to be idle, opened a tire shop with Sonny's help.  (Momma and Daddy always said Sonny was their only son-in-law.  Guess they knew he was a keeper, too.)  By this time, grandchildren had appeared and Daddy had a "little" softer hands with them..  But they picked blueberries and strawberries.  The tire shop kept Daddy busy until he became too ill to run it.  Although, he stayed active with yardsales and such.

Daddy, always a nomad of sorts, loved being outside, camping, fishing, hunting and traveling.  Especially to Indiana to see those grandchildren.  He'd come through the door and tell Momma to "get stuff together we're going" somewhere.  She loved to go - where didn't matter.  They were happy just being together.

Regardless of how little they had Daddy and Momma lent a helping hand to anyone in need.  They faithfully sent money and other items to help Momma's younger siblings after Grandpa's death.  Every summer, after 14-16 hour workdays, Christmas bicycles were built for Momma's younger siblings.  Anyone in need of whatever always found their door open and hands of giving.  (Of course, they were always fed.)  Dad often stated he was accustomed to helping others and not being on the receiving end.

Daddy was no stranger to loss and pain. A daughter, three grandsons, three younger brothers and a brother-in-law perished tragically.  He had skin/stomach/blood/pancreas/kidney/prostrate cancers, open heart bypass (first heart attack at age 32), stroke, Atrophic Kidney (one kidney shriveled/stopped functioning many years ago) with other kidney functioning less than 50%, Type 2 Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Peripheral Neuropathy, high blood pressure and other aging conditions.  Confinement to a bed/chair for the last seventeen months was hard for him.  Both Daddy and Momma fought extended battles with genetic diseases.  Momma lost her battle with Early Onset Alzheimer's September 05, 2019.  Daddy looked forward to the day he'd again be with "My Pretty Lady".  He battled raging Multiple Myeloma for many years before succumbing to the cancers.  But placing Momma in a nursing facility was the hardest decision he ever made - even with enlisted help from daughters.

Also preceding him in death; daughter; Mary Jo Ellen, her second and fourth husbands, Joe Harrington, Richard "Ricky/Rick" Lee Curtis, Sr.; daughter-in-law, Teresa Lock Stevens; grandsons; Richard Lee Stevens, Jr., Hank Lynn Stevens, Rodney Stevens, great-grandchildren; Joseph Andrew Stone, Jasper Lee Stone, Arabella Grace Russell; parents; brothers; Earl "Ellis", Thelbert Laferl, Laban Guthrie, Leonard Spratt,: two unnamed newborns; brothers-in-law, George Gray, J. T. "Bud" Gates, sisters-in-law; Flora May Stringer Stevens Johnson Sullins; Paternal Grandparents; Samuel "Silvester" and Sarah Isabell Kirk Stevens, Maternal Grandparents; James Corydon and Pearl Belle Goss Blanchard; Paternal Great-Grandparents; John Wesley and Sarah Elizabeth Shane Stevens and Thomas Elbert and Nancy Catherine Cox Kirk, Maternal Great-Grandparents; Uri Curtis and Martha Matilda Hutson Blanchard. and William Curtis and Vanda Ann Whitelock Goss and other loved ones and friends.

Surviving are his children; Sharon (Sonny) Sartin, Jonesboro,  Arnold "Danny" Hutchison (Jackie Palmer), Jonesboro, Sarah Stevens (Ron Boren), Mountain View, Richard Stevens, Sr. (Anne Hoffman), Jonesboro, Ronnie (Kelly) Stevens, Sr., Walnut Ridge, Jamie (Wayne) Russell, Hoxie, Sandra Wallis, Delaplaine, Joseph (Zelda) Adams, Sedgwick, Nicholas Stevens (Sheila Honeycutt-Stevens), Delaplaine; raised the following grandchildren; Rodney, Michael and Kara Feezor, Darla, Coy, Cindy, and Brandon Massey, helped raised numerous grandchildren and other children; 51 Grandchildren; 154 Great-Grandchildren; 14 Great-Great-Grandchildren: siblings; Elmo, Jonesboro, Lucetra "Sally" (William "Bill") Summitt III, Horseshoe Bend, Lloyd (Katie) Stevens, Big Flat, Vanita Kay Gates Gray, Maldin, Missouri; sister in law, Mary Hopkins Stevens and a multitude of children of the heart, nephews/nieces, great-nephews/nieces, extended family and friends that will miss him greatly.

Pallbearers are Grandsons:  Kevin Sartin, Gerald Hutchison, Michael Feezor, Jeremy Stone, Ronnie Stevens, Jr., Rickie McCoy, Jr., Kevin White, Sr. and Mike Bova.  Honorary Pallbearers are Sonny Sartin, Wayne Russell, Danny Hutchison, Rodney Feezor, Duane Stacy and Brandon Massey.

Visitation:  Tuesday, March 23, 2021 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM for family and 6:00 - 8:00 PM for friends and neighbors.  Service:  Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 11:00 AM. - both at Emerson's Chapel, 1629 East Nettleton Avenue , Jonesboro, Arkansas.  Interment follows, with Rodney Feezor presiding, at Rock Creek Cemetery, Harriet, under direction of Emerson Funeral Home.

MANY THANKS and much appreciation to Dr. Homer Brooks III and staff and 4th Floor Charge Nurses: Jada and Adam at Northeast Arkansas Baptist Memorial Hospital, St. Bernard's Dr. Durrani and Dr Duvoore and other Specialists (16 total) and their staff.  Due to Daddy's condition when he came to live with a daughter in Jonesboro, we, the family, truly believe you prevented an untimely death.  Which gave us those last two precious years of time with him.  But most of all, a Very Special Thanks to Alicia and Rhonda with St. Bernard's Hospice for helping us through another heartbreakng experience.

Memorial donations: St. Bernard's Cancer Center, Diabetes Center or Hospice in Jonesboro, Arkansas