Lavina Elizabeth (Sloan) Stephens (1924 - 2023)

Born 25 Jul 1924 in Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Lura Lyle Stephens — married 1 Aug 1943 in Tulare, Tulare, California, United States

Descendants

Died 24 Jul 2023 at age 98 in Kent, King, Washington, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Clark Stephens [send private message]

Biography

• 1924 Jul 24 CO birth^[1][2]
• 1930 Census CO age 5 in home of parents Ray 42 and Lena 38 Sloan^[3]
• 1943 CA marriage between Lura Lyle Stephens age 18 and Lavinia Elizabeth Stephens age 18^[4]
• 1945 Lura L. and Lavinia Stephens lived in San Diego, CA^[5]
• 1950 Census CA age 25 with husband Lura L. 26 Stephens^[6]
• 2023 Jul 23 WA aged 98 death. Her remains are interred in the Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA, US: location 30C-807.^[7][8]
• 2023 November; A letter written to the Stephens family in memory of their mother, Lavinia Stephens:

"Dear Barbara and Family, "Thank you so much for letting us know about Lavinia. She was such a lovely lady and much loved and admired by us at the Bridgeville Baptist Church.

"My husband, Wayne, and I moved back to Humboldt County, CA after retiring as teachers in the San Bernardino area. We lived on some property we had near Bridgeville and started attending the Bridgeville Baptist Church around 1998. At that time Lura was deacon and song leader and Lavinia was Sunday School teacher and treasurer.

"We all admired them so much! Lura also taught the adult Sunday School class and the two of them did much of the work around the church. I think we never realized how much they did until they moved to town. After that, I became the children's Sunday School teacher and Wayne became treasurer.

"We never had a large congregation, but we loved being together and had many happy times at potlucks and other gatherings. I remember Lavinia's lovely paintings and seeing some of them in the bank in Fortuna. We visited them at their home in Swain's Flat and saw Lavini'a art studio and the sheep that Lura often compared us to!

"Lavinia was such an inspiration to me. She was always gracious and kind, and I never heard her speak ill of anyone. She di so much for the church, for all of us, in her quiet way. I miss her greatly but always remember how cheerfully and kindly she did so much. I try to be a little like her! Most of the others who made up our church at that time are gone now, but they all held her and Lura in high esteem.

"Again, thank you for letting us know, and we are very sorry for your loss even as we know that she is in a better and happier place.

"Sincerely, with our love and prayers, Betty Heaton, Bridgeville Baptist Church, CA. End of letter."

Sources

1. ↑ Year: 1924; Find A Grave: Memorial #258053251
2. ↑ Year: 1924; State of Washington Certificate of Death
3. ↑ Year: 1930; Census Place: Northwest Jerome, Jerome, Idaho; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0013; FHL microfilm: 2340135
4. ↑ Year: 1943; Visalia Times-Delta; Publication Date: 26/ Jul/ 1943; Publication Place: Visalia, California, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/529598273/?article=01cdaeb9-7df6-4b78-a444-87e0080ab948&focus=0.16203877,0.31278783,0.2792959,0.3469013&xid=3398
5. ↑ Year: 1945; Title: San Diego, California, City Directory, 1944-1945
6. ↑ Year: 1950; United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California; Roll: 494; Sheet Number: 14; Enumeration District: 71-61
7. ↑ Year: 2023; State of Washington Certificate of Death
8. ↑ Year: 2023; Find A Grave: Memorial #258053251