William Stephens

Graveside services are scheduled at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 7, at Twin Oaks Memorial Park for William Dude Stephens, 1402 Gilchrist Ave. Apt. 2, Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Stephens, 84, died Sunday, September 5, 2004 at Artesia General Hospital. Wayne Bedingfield will officiate at the services. Mr. Stephens was born May 31, 1920 in Clovis, New Mexico; the son of James Carrol Stephens and Mary Jane Whitfield Stephens. On November 21, 1978 he was married to Wilma E. Kee in Lake Arthur, NM. He came to Artesia in 1929 from McDonald, New Mexico. He was a rancher. He was preceeded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, and 4 sisters. Survivors include his wife Wilma E. Stephens of the family home; son James Carrol Stephens of Midland, Texas; daughters Waunell McCoy and husband James, and Mattie Page and husband Bud; sister Millie Gill; brother-in-law Stanly Gooch, Sr.; nephew Stanly Gooch; nieces Vera Young, and Shannon May Gooch; great-nephew Dalton Gooch; great-nieces Shae Gooch and Ske Gooch; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.