March 2, 1958 – October 29, 2010 Russell D. Stephens, Jr. passed away Friday, October 29th, 2010 at his home in Valley View, TX after a long, courageous fight against diabetes.
Services are set for 2 pm Saturday, November 6th at St Paulâ??s Episcopal Church with the Rev. Vernon Gotcher officiating. Services under the direction of Clement-Keel Funeral Home in Gainesville, TX.
Russell was born March 2nd, 1958 to Russell D. and Ada Stephens at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, TX. He graduated from Trinity High School in Euless in 1976 and married the former Beverly Tidwell on February 24, 1990. Russell went on to a very successful 24 year career with Southwest Airlines as an aircraft mechanic, maintenance supervisor and instructor. Russell had a passion for guns and hunting. He fulfilled his desire to live out in the country and moved to land in Valley View where he designed and built their home.
Russell is survived by his wife, Beverly Stephens who was his soul mate and the love of his life. Other survivors in his life and family are his father Russell Sr. and mother Ada Stephens, sisters Cheryl and husband Chris Clark and Sandra Ferris; nieces and nephews Kristina, Shaina, Jessica, Colleen, Kathryn, Sean-Michael, Dalton and great niece Kinley Olivia.
Mother in law Jean Tidwell; sisters and brothers in law Norma Alexander, Linda and husband Mike Russell, Gary and wife Karen Tidwell; nieces and nephews Steve, Rebecca, Zach, Josh, Jacob, John, Claudine, Aidan, Melissa, Aaron, Paris, Julie, Grant and Sam. His brothers in heart, Mike Blue, Doug Simmang, Paul Williamson, Michael York, Charlie Keller, J. R. Rodenas, Brian Smith and Chris Clark all of whom were of great help to him and Beverly throughout his life.
He would also like to thank his devoted Southwest Airlines Family whose generosity was legend and of great comfort throughout his life and illness. Your kindness will never be forgotten. The family would also like to thank his many caregivers specifically, Dr. J. Brodsky, P.A. Lynn McDonough of Orthopedic Associates of Dallas, Drâ??s Asghar, Ruiz and Rojas of the North Texas Kidney Disease Associates, the nurses of Denton Dialysis Center, Sherri Neaderhiser, RN and Misty McGee of Southern Care Hospice and Dr. Laura De Moya of Baylor Specialty Hospital.
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations to Organ Donor Awareness representing Taylor’s Gift Foundation @ www.Taylorsgift.org or the American Diabetes Foundation @ www.diabetes.org would be greatly appreciated.