Obituary of Billy Stephens

Billy “Bill” J. Stephens, age 86, passed away at his home in Ardmore, Okla., on Friday, August 11, 2023. Memorial services will be held at 10:30am, Friday, August 18, 2023, in The Chapel at Griffin~Hillcrest with Paster Donny Custar officiating. Cremation with care under the direction of Griffin~Hillcrest. Interment to follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park. Bill was born at Brady, Texas on October 14, 1936, to E. Houston Stephens and Lois (Tyler) Stephens. He attended Canyon High School and enlisted in the United States Navy on July 26, 1956, as an electrician’s mate, receiving his honorable discharge on July 18th, 1960. He moved to Amarillo, Texas, beginning his career in law enforcement where he joined the police department for the next ten years. Bill then moved to Dimmit, Texas, as an officer and then to Memphis, Tennessee, where he ran a mechanics shop. Bill moved to Ardmore in 1978 and worked at Otasco as a mechanic. He then returned to law enforcement and worked for the Carter County Detention Center retiring in 1999. Bill married LaJoy Parrott on October 23, 1999, in Kingston, Okla. Bill loved to work with his hands. Woodworking was his passion; he loved creating pieces for his family and friends. He was great at using his eye to see the landscapes and would do family portraits. He was a huge supporter of The Dallas Cowboys, never missing a game. Bill and Joy enjoyed going out dancing to country and western music. He was preceded by his parents, three siblings: Marguerite Benson, Ernie Stephens, and Gene Stephens. Bill is survived by his wife, LaJoy Stephens, son, Robert “Bob” Stephens, daughter, Terri Lewis and husband, Jeff, stepsons, Thomas Parrott and wife, Evelyn, and Terry Parrott and wife, Dorrie, step-daughter, Charla Sanders, fifteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.