Charles Daniel "Chuck" Stephens Tahlequah Daily Press
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
August 6, 2012Submitted by: Sabrina Hitchcock
Services for Charles Daniel “Chuck” Stephens will be held Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at 10 a.m., at Green Country Funeral Home in Tahlequah, with Rev. Phillip Buford officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, Aug. 5, from 1 to 8 p.m., and Monday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m to 8 p.m. Interment will be at Fort Gibson National Cemetery immediately following the service ,under the care of Green Country Funeral Home. Pallbearers include Ron Mahaney, Jon Herring, Justin Buford, Calvin Nicolas, Wayne Roblin, and David Gurthet. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Worthman, Christopher Mahaney, Gerald James, Gary Swagerty, and Jack Townsend. Online condolences may be left at tahlequah funeral.com
Chuck was born Oct. 4, 1951, in Tulsa, to Gilbert F. and Evelyn F. (O'Brien) Stephens. After graduating from Broken Arrow High School in 1969, Chuck enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Kamehameha. He was honorably discharged in February of 1978, having reached the rank of petty officer first class/missile technician first class. He was also in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Chuck entered the Tulsa Police Academy in November 1978 and served the city of Tulsa as a patrol officer until 1983, when he joined the Tahlequah Police Department. He achieved the rank of captain before deciding to further his education at Northeastern State University. While working on his bachelor's degree, he worked as a computer programmer and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 2004. He had begun pursuing his credentials as a Certified Public Accountant when he became ill.
Chuck enjoyed reading, traveling, and spending time with his family and friends. He loved the holidays, especially Oct. 4. He met his loving wife, Barbara, in 1985, and the two were married on Feb. 21, 1986.
Chuck passed away on Aug. 1, 2012, in Warner, with his family by his side. He was 60 years old. He will be greatly missed for his infinite generosity, selflessness, sense of humor, love of animals, and especially for the love he showed his family.
Chuck was preceded in death by his parents Gilbert and Evelyn, and a sister, Gloria (Suzy) Powers.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Barbara (Mahaney) Stephens; sons, Nicholas Stephens of Tahlequah, Junior Butler and wife, Amanda, of Hulbert, and Brian Stephens; daughter, Dawn Stephens; sister, Rae Mattingly and husband, Rodger, of Englewood, Colo.; granddaughter, Emma Raye Butler, who was the light of his life; new grandson, Ethan Michael Butler, who was born on July 26, 2012; aunt, Virginia O'Brien of Muskogee; and a special cousin, Kathleen Swagerty and husband, Gary, of Bentonville, Ark. He is also survived by special relatives, including grandparents-in-law, Jim and Roberta Worthman of Eldon, mother-in-law, Nadine Mahaney of Tahlequah, brother-in-law, Ron Mahaney and wife, Sheila of Kansas, sister-in-law, Laurel Mahaney and nephew, Christopher Mahaney both of Tahlequah, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and friends.
Anyone wishing to express sympathy to the family are asked to consider a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
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