Edna Stephenson

Who can find a woman who fears the Lord?

17-year-old Raymond Stephenson certainly found one in a girl named Naomi. They were married by the justice of the peace in Stilwell two months after her 14th birthday. When asked about her young age of marriage by a granddaughter she said, “I was well into the eighth grade.” She was very mature for her age.

Edna Naomi Vaughan Stephenson was born on August 31, 1933 in Stilwell, Oklahoma and married on October 24, 1947. She had 9 children between December 30, 1948 and October 9, 1964. She was a grandmother by her 36th birthday and a great-great grandmother by her 83rd birthday. She did a lot of living and loving in her 87 years of life.

She worked hard at raising a family as best she knew how. She wasn’t perfect but to paraphrase part of Proverbs 31 she was far more precious than jewels, she did good for her husband all the days of her life, she made clothes for her children, and provided good food and a clean house for her family. Her children and husband will rise and call her blessed.

She knew how to work and taught her children to be responsible and hard workers too. They were well loved and directed by good Christian parents.

She was married to Raymond 48 years until his death on January 2, 1996. She passed away on January 24, 2021 surrounded by her children.

She is preceded in death by her parents: John Wesley and Edna Brock Vaughan, brothers: Ed, Tommy, and Willis, sisters: Elsie, Katherine, and Sarah, one granddaughter: Amber Stephenson, sons-in-law: J.C. Eubanks and Ronnie Davis.

She is survived by her 9 children, 23 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren. Children: Patricia and Fred Conway, Janice and Butch Swepston, Joyce Eubanks, Wanda and Joe Eubanks, Colene Stephenson and Bobby Green, Brenda Stephenson and Paul Pinkerton, Raymond and Brenda Stephenson, Gary and Pam Stephenson, and Deby and Darrell Lacie.

Siblings and beloved in-laws: Dora and Ira Coombes, Red and Marilyn Vaughan, and Lebron and Patricia Vaughan.

She has many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, friends. She has three remaining in-laws and lifelong friends: Joyce and Earl Raleigh and Darlene Bradford.