Herbert W. Stevens

Herbert Walter Stevens, age 104, died peacefully on December 24, 2020. Herb was born May 7, 1916, in Sedalia, MO to Henry and May O’Bannon) Stevens.

He attended elementary school at Lone Elm (rural elementary / 5 miles south of LaMont, MO, and Benton Elementary in KCMO for 7th grade; Central Jr and Sr and Northeast High in KCMO for 8 – 10th grade, then back to LaMont, MO, High School for 11th and 12th grade.

He worked at the General Motors / Fisher Body Plant from 1934 to 1946. Herb was a World War II Vet and was a member of VFW Post 5789, Lee’s Summit, MO. Herb worked for 31years, from 1947 to 1978 as a Pipefitter and was a Life member of Pipefitters, Local 533.

Herb married Marjorie McGuire on August 8th, 1936, and they resided in Lee’s Summit, MO. Herb was married to Marge for 31+ years until she passed away on March 6th, 1968.

In 1969, Herb married Carmen L. (Cellier) Martin, who passed 4 days prior to Herb’s passing, after 51 years of marriage.

After retiring in 1978, Herb and Carmen moved to the Lake of the Ozarks where they resided for nine years. They then moved to Pharr, Texas, residing there until 2006, when they moved back to Overland Park, KS, to be near family.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters (Opal, Myrtle, Elsie, Violet, Henrietta) and one brother (Carl).

He is survived by his step-daughter – Barbara Wischropp and her husband, Doug; step-son – Donald Martin; Grandsons – Jon Spahr (wife Katie) and Jeff Spahr (wife Nikki); Great-grandsons – Ben Spahr and Elliot Spahr and many loving nieces and nephews.

Herb’s hobbies were woodworking or doing / making anything with his hand. His fondest memories are: “Life as a Whole. So many of his great memories go back to time on the farm.”

Memorial Services and Celebration of Life were delayed due to COVID-19, but are now scheduled for August 14th, 2021.

11:00 - Memorial Service at the Church of the Resurrection, Wesley Covenant Chapel, 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS 66224. There will be a visitation prior to the service from 10:30 to 11:00.

1:00 - Graveside Service at Memorial Park Cemetery, 8251 Hillcrest, KCMO 64138, where their ashes will be interred. It will be brief, with a prayer, and military honors for Herb, our proud WWII Vet. We will have an escort from the church to the cemetery, for those who don’t know where the cemetery or specific graves are located.

2:00 - Celebration of Life, The Martin Event Space, 13440 Holmes Rd, KCMO 64145 (Martin City). This will be a casual gathering with some food (appetizers) and drinks. We hope to celebrate the long, well-lived lives with lots of happy memories, stories and cheers.

Memorial Contribution can be sent to Jack Ray VFW Post 5789, 329 SE Douglas St, Lee’s Summit MO 64063.

The family appreciates the care and support received from Park Lawn Funerals, Church of the Resurrection, and all of the love and prayers that we have received from all of you.

Herb picked this to share:

I’m Free

Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free
I’m following the path God has laid you see.
I took His hand when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all

I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love to work or play
Tasks left undone must stay that way
I found that peace at the close of the day

If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys,
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Oh yes, these things I too will miss

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow,
My life’s been full, I savored much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to thee.
God wanted me now; He set me free.

Memorial Services and Celebration of Life were delayed due to COVID-19, but are now scheduled for August 14th, 2021.

11:00 – Memorial Service at the Church of the Resurrection, Wesley Covenant Chapel, 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS 66224. There will be a visitation prior to the service from 10:30 to 11:00.

1:00 – Graveside Service at Memorial Park Cemetery, 8251 Hillcrest, KCMO 64138, where their ashes will be interred. It will be brief, with a prayer, and military honors for Herb, our proud WWII Vet. We will have an escort from the church to the cemetery, for those who don’t know where the cemetery or specific graves are located.

2:00 – Celebration of Life, The Martin Event Space, 13440 Holmes Rd, KCMO 64145 (Martin City). This will be a casual gathering with some food (appetizers) and drinks. We hope to celebrate the long, well-lived lives with lots of happy memories, stories and cheers.

Memorial Contribution can be sent to Jack Ray VFW Post 5789, 329 SE Douglas St, Lee’s Summit MO 64063.

The family appreciates the care and support received from Park Lawn Funerals, Church of the Resurrection, and all of the love and prayers that we have received from all of you.