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EVADNE SUE STEPHENS

Evadne Sue (Hopkins) Stephens was born to James Riley and Opal Adeline (Rutledge) Hopkins on May 29, 1937 in Wichita, KS. She was soon joined by a younger brother, Larry Lee Hopkins. During her youth in Wichita, she trained as a classical pianist. Sue gave her heart to the Lord Jesus in 1958 at a revival at First Assembly of God in Wichita. She was very active throughout her life in her service to the Lord. She was involved in the Mount Ayr Assembly of God (now New Life Family Church) as Secretary/Treasurer, Sunday School teacher, Youth Leader and piano player for several decades.
On July 7, 1958 Sue was united in marriage to Donald Eugene Stephens in Wichita, KS. This union was blessed with five children, Kenneth Eugene Stephens (Cindy), Kathy Ilene Poore, Genevieve Rene Malone (David), Dusty Donald Eugene Stephens Jr. (Robyne) and Lisa Mary Elizabeth Constant.
Sue was a dedicated wife and mother. For several years, starting in the 1970’s she did two man trucking with Donald making her one of the first woman truck drivers. She would tell many great stories about her adventures trucking with Donald. After Donald’s retirement in 1998, Sue began to drive the school bus for the Worth County Head Start in Grant City, MO. During this time, she fulfilled a lifelong dream and attained her GED at the age of 64.
Sue was a very intelligent person and a gifted pianist. She drew the plans of her dream home that Donald, Dusty, Lisa and she later built together. Her children and many of her grandchildren will have memories of her at the piano playing gospel and classical music. Most remembered will be her playing her favorite Beethoven song, Fur Elise. Sue passed away on October 18, 2021, in her home.
Sue is survived and will be greatly missed by her husband, Donald, of the home, her children, grandchildren, Scott Poore (Chandra), Chrissie Poore, Josie Mobley (Wyatt), Aimie Larson (Robbie), Nick Belfore (Eric), Laurel Stephens, Nate Stephens (Maggie), Jeffery Constant (Laura) and Kimberly Cotner (Dustin). Great grandchildren, Karly and Kamryn Poore, Cole and Kerrigan Mobley, Cody, Tate and Tucker Larson, Bryson and Zoe Cotner, and Blayne, Iliya, Thayer, Hayes, Mavryk, and Tracy Constant. Her brother, Larry Hopkins (Sandra), sister-in-law, Bette Griffith, sister-in-law, Joy Roslien (Dave). And also, a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, church family and unofficially adopted children Harold and Paula Johnston and James Haswell.
Sue is preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws, Clarence and Hazel Stephens, a granddaughter, Kelsey Stephens, brother-in-law, Harold Griffith, and son-in-law, Tracy Constant.
Services were at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 22, 2021 at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, IA.
Officiating was Rev. Paul Chishala.
Musicians were Nancy Sackett, Joyce Gregg and Carol Anne McCreary.
Songs were “Mansion Over the Hilltop”, “I Love to Tell the Story” and “It Will Be Worth It All”.
Casketbearers were Harold Johnston, Dustin Cotner, Nick Belfore, Nate Stephens, Jeff Constant and Bryson Cotner.
Honorary Pallbearers were James Haswell, Kim Cotner, Laurel Stephens and Rod Zollman.
Burial was at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr, IA.
Memorials are to the New Life Family Church and Gideons International.

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