Lavera Darlene (Stephenson) Bradford

©Roberts-Reed-Culver Funeral Home

April 24, 1936~February 2, 2021

Submitted by Jan Grooms

Lavera Darlene Bradford was born on April 24, 1936 in Caddo, Oklahoma and departed this life on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at 84 years of age.

 Darlene was one of eight children born to Claude and Pearl Stephenson. 

At a young age, she developed a strong work ethic that she carried all through her life.  She worked as a school cafeteria manager and also worked side by side with her husband Jack in their TV & Appliance store in Oklahoma City.  After they moved to Lake Tenkiller, she was the store manager of the Hop In convenience store in Tahlequah for many years.  She loved making the breakfast and lunch meals at the store where she had quite a reputation for serving great food.  Several of her grandchildren have fond memories of going to “help” grandma in the store. 

The grandkids also loved to go to grandpa and grandma’s in the summer to help with projects they had going on at their lake house. 

Darlene became quite handy with the saws and hammer as she and Jack added several rooms on to the house.

Darlene also loved planning and cooking the meals with the other ladies at the Stephenson Reunions. 

She has had many hobbies over the years that she liked to share with all her kids and grandkids.  In her later years she loved doing puzzles, but once she had them together she didn’t want to take them apart.  I think most of us have one of her puzzles that she put together and glued to poster board for framing.  They are all the more precious to us now with her passing. 

Darlene raised her children up in the church and prayed faithfully for Jack to become a Christian.  After that, they were both faithful members and supporters of the Nazarene church in Norman, Ok and later at the Tahlequah Nazarene church. 

She loved making her No Bake cookies for the Wednesday meals at church and was willing to help with anything the church needed. 

Darlene and Jack passed on a great heritage of Christian faith and service to their children and grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 2 pm on Friday, February 5, 2021 at Powerhouse Church, Stilwell, OK with Rev. Austin Troyer, Rev. Don Nichols and Rev. Darrell Lacie officiating.  Interment followed at Reese Cemetery, Stilwell, OK under the direction of Roberts/Reed-Culver Funeral Home, Stilwell, OK.