Delo Stephenson

Graveside services for Delo Stephenson, Jr., 77, of Shallowater, TX will be held at 10:00 AM, Sat., July 24, 2021 in the Floyd Cemetery with Wayne McAlister officiating.  Royce Stephenson, Dylan Stephenson, Bucky Gossett, Mark McAlister, Keith McAlister and Wendel Bostwick will serve as  pallbearers.  His friend Lee Romo and Junior's coffee drinking friends will serve as honorary pallbearers.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions may make them to the American Heart Association, P O Box 90790, Albuquerque, NM 87199-0790.

Delo Stephenson Jr. was born on July 6, 1944 in Lubock,Texas to Delo and Ruby Stephenson,  He left this world at his home in Shallowater, Texas on July 19, 2021.  He lived less than five miles from where his parents lived when he was born.

He grew up on a farm in Floyd, New Mexico and attended all 12 years at Floyd Schools. He graduated with the class of 1962, highlighting the end of school with a senior trip to the World’s Fair.  He married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Borden, on October 5, 1962 in Floyd.  They were delighted with the birth of their first child, Royce 1964 and again with Brian in 1966.  “Junior” as his family knew him, and Sharon experienced many facets of life, living in Floyd, Ft. Sumner, Dexter, Roswell, Austin and Shallowater.  Their contentment in life was when Delo was employed in maintenance at Covenant Hospital  and Sharon was receptionist for Dr. David Close at Joe Arrington Cancer Center until Sharon was diagnosed with Brain Cancer.  Delo took care of Sharon throughout her illness until November 2, 2000, the date of her death.  In 2001 he was married to Theresa Flinn.  She also preceded him in death in 2006.  On Oct. 13, 2018 in Shallowater, he was married to Kathy Russell.

Delo loved children, and immediately accepted Kathy's children as his own.  He and Kathy gained custody of their great-granddaughter, Sapphire Rose Kershman when she was nine months old.  Rosebud, as he nicknamed her, was the delight of his life.  Her very first word was Papa.  Junior was known throughout the community for his woodworking.  In addition to making picnic tables, chairs and porch swings, and doing special orders, he made all of the benches for the local pumpkin patch.  He regularly sold his creations at the Wolfforth Farmer's Market.  Junior genuinely cared about people, and was always ready to lend a helping hand.  Every morning at 6 o'clock you could find him and his three coffee drinking buddies at the local donut shop.  He was a member of the Baptist church.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy of the home; a son, Royce and his fiance, DeeAnna Carrasco; five grandchildren – Sasha(Randy) Fry, Shaina (Pete) Smith, Ryan (Kim) Stephenson and Dylan (Angel) Stephenson, Matthew (Janice) Garrett; twelve great-grandchildren, Raina Fry, Rachel Fry, Trey Smith, Bryce Smith, Levi Smith, Kinzee Stephenson, Axel Stephenson, Emma Stephenson, Paisley Lopez, Alexander Lopez, Kayden Garrett, and Kattie Garrett; and by two sisters and brothers-in-law, Joyce and Buck Gossett of Anton, TX and Lois and Thomas McAlister of Floyd, NM.  He is also survived by his step-grandson, Trevor Kershman, his step-granddaughter, Tiffany Kershman and his precious, "Rosebud."

In addition to both of his first wives, Junior was preceded in death by his parents, Ruby and Delo Stephenson and by his son, Brian who died in 2013.

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