Kenneth Lee Stephens: He Lived Love
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Kenneth Lee Stephens
September 20, 1936 – January 15, 2024Kenneth Lee Stephens went to be with his Lord and Savior following a long illness on January 15, 2024 in Redding, CA at age 87. He was born in Pineville, Missouri on September 20, 1936 to Frank and Jewelle Stephens. He was the youngest of five children. His family moved to California in 1946 and he attended Fortuna High School, graduating in 1954. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving from 1954 to 1957.
He married Myrna Mateel Grimes on August 30, 1958. They had three boys, Todd (who was stillborn), Scott and Brian. Scott is married to Jonalee Wilson and Brian is married to Leslie Dailey. Scott’s children are James (Brooke) Stephens, Tyeson (Jennifer) Stephens, Misty (Marques) Stephens-Nelson, Franki Stephens and Jessica (Ryan) Siggers. Brian’s children are Gage Stephens and Crue Pritchard. They also have 11 great-grandchildren.
Kenneth started working at Eel River Auto Parts in Rio Dell, CA in 1957. He moved his family to Garberville, CA in 1963 and managed the Eel River Auto Parts store there until 1977. After that he worked for Pacific Gas & Electric as a meter reader, traveling throughout the rural areas of the Emerald Triangle until his retirement in 1998. He was able to gain the trust and respect of the residents. Kenny & Myrna moved to Redding in 2008. They were members of Little Country Church in Redding.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Jewelle Stephens, brothers Harold and Bill Stephens, his sister Lorraine Waters, and his infant son Todd Stephens.
Funeral service will be held February 8, 2024 at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery in Igo at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow in Palo Cedro. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607-3000 (samaritanspurse.org).
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When I was a child, our family lived next to Kenny and Myrna. They left a lasting impression on me of good people. Myrna would gather us in for prayer in the morning and a vitamin C tablet before school–sometimes shaped like one of the Flintstones! Kenny was one of those people my folks called “solid.” He could be counted on.
I remember them both as being kind people and to a child that was enough for me to remember them for the next nearly 60 years. Kindness is such a gift to the world. Thank you.
Sorry for your loss miss Kym.
The fact that you remember him nearly 60 years later is a testament to the fact that he was a great person….. who could ask for more.
I’m so sorry to hear of Kenny’s passing. I lived just down the street from Kenny and Myrna too. I spent many days running the woods and hills of Benbow with my best friend – Scott and later with Brain in tow. Kenny and Myrna were very much my second set of parents. Many good memories of them. I echo Kim’s comment that Kenny was “solid” and add grounded.
Your response brought back good memories of our childhood. The Benbow crew were good folks.
RIP Kenny. He was a good guy. One of many who was involved in young peoples lives. He helped me many times find that right part for what I was working on. He and Pete Johnson were good friends and were very sharp on auto parts.
Kind of always thought of Pete and Kenny as a team. A kinda John Madden and Pat Summerall were to football announcing, that was Kenny and Pete with parts!
Condolences to his family. As everyone says, he was an honest and solid family man that I considered a friend.