Joseph D Stephens (Scott)

Joseph  D. Stephens (Scott)

Joe was born on September 24, 1946 to Eugene and Bernadine (Prochaska) Scott, in Pawnee, OK. Joe spent much of his young life in and out of foster homes and was adopted at age 12 by Jack and Pearl Stephens along with 2 of his 7 siblings.

Joe served in the navy during the Vietnam war as a rescue diver, a cook and mainly a smart alek. He didn’t talk about the hard parts of the war much but he loved to tell people stories about the pranks he pulled. His sense of humor and his love for making people laugh is one of the things people loved the most about him.

Joe married the love of his life, Glenda Stephens in March 1976,  and enjoyed 45 years before her sudden passing in 2021. They settled in Merkel, Tx in 1980 where they raised their children. He worked as a sheet metal mechanic at Abilene Sheet Metal and Batjer and Associates. When he was younger he was a member of the Abilene Road Riders Motorcycle Club. He loved to ride but he also enjoyed metal detecting, rattle snake hunting, dove hunting, coon hunting and his most recent hobby was coin collecting. Joe served as a Merkel Volunteer Fire Fighter for over a decade and also worked at the Merkel Museum after retiring from Batjers. Joe was very proud of his lineage and was a Son of the Republic of Texas, having traced his lineage back all the way to the Spanish American War.

Joe is survived by 2 children and one bonus son: Robbie (Becca) Stephens of Merkel, Beki (Josh) Kofoed of Merkel and Jim (Sandi) Woodard of Washington State. He left behind 10 grandchildren: Madi (Blake) Lachance, Emma (Brady) Bilbrey, Avery Martin, Brayden (Bailey) Martin, Camden Martin, Jeremiah Weston (Keila) Stephens, Wyatt (JC) Kofoed, Karli (D’Alan) Cotton, Stephanie Woodard and Sarah Seigler (Jake) and 14 great grandchildren. Joe is also survived by his three sisters: Karen Walton, Marsha Williams and Julie Warton, his in-laws Bill and Becky Pursley, Joe and Kelly Pannell and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Bernadine Scott, Jack and Pearl Stephens, his loving wife Glenda, all of his brothers: Robert Scott, Eugene Scott, Fred Stephens, Danny Emmert, in-laws, Joe and Sue Pannell and  brother in-laws Don Whisenhunt, Clifford Walton, and David Williams.

Joe was a hard worker. He loved people and if you ever met him, you probably left with a pocket knife or a “rare” coin. He had a passion for life, a generous spirit and a laugh that will never be forgotten. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

A celebration of life will be on Monday, February 16th at 2:00 at the Merkel Church of Christ.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joseph D Stephens (Scott), please visit our floral store.