Neta Nadine Stephens
Neta Nadine Stephens, 81, died Sunday, October 4, 2015, at her home in Garden City.
She was born February 24, 1934 in Gove, Kansas to William Jacob and Layla Royer. She graduated from Garden City High School in 1952 and married Bill (William) Stephens on August 30. They lived in Garden City, Denver, Colorado and Overland, Park, Kansas, retiring in Garden City in 1996.
Neta loved her family. She fulfilled her life by making it a point of being a part of her family’s lives. She was an avid reader and a talented decorative painter for over forty years. She most enjoyed painting for family and friends. Many special people have been given one of her hand painted Old World Santa heart ornaments that Bill hand sanded and Neta caringly painted. Together, they restored their historical family home and grounds where family have gathered for so many wonderful memories.
Survivors include her husband, Bill of the home, and four daughters: Deborah (Roger) Jarmer, Garden City, Stephanie (Ken) Martinek, Tempe, Arizona, Barbara Stephens, Garden City, and Julie Chamberlain, Locust Grove, Oklahoma. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Lindsay (Russell) Clark, Garden City, Joseph (Jaime) Jarmer, Garden City, Brett (Gara)Jarmer, Garden City, Katie (Nathan) Crowe, Kansas City, Missouri, Kelli (Boris) Quintero, Mission, Kansas, Matthew (Ashley) Jarmer Lawrence, Kansas, Meghan Martinek, Tampa, Florida, Shelby Martinek, Tuscon, Arizona, Callie Zanandrie, Denver, Colorado, Thomas Zanandrie, Miami, Florida, Rachel Careathers, Denver, Colorado, Josh Stephens, Denver, Colorado and nine great grandchildren: Tristan Clark, Clayton, Abigail and Lauren Jarmer, Ryan, William and Seth Jarmer, Garden City, and Samuel and Ellie Stephens, Denver, Colorado; a sister-in-law, Catherine Stephens Burlin (Robert), Overland Park, Kansas and nieces, Patricia Burlin Rasavage (David) Springfield, Oregon, Shawna Burlin Cheney (Scott), Maui, Hawaii, and nephews, David Burlin, Alpine, California, and Kevin Burlin (Janelle), Stillwell, Kansas. She was preceded in death by a son, Douglas William Stephens, her parents, brother, Jacob William Royer, and grandparents Verna and Walter Litton and an uncle, Dale Litton.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 9, 2015 at the Community Congregational Church, Garden City with Rev. Jeff Starkey officiating. A private family interment will take place at a later date. There will be no calling hours. Memorials are suggested to the Finney County Historical Society in care of the funeral home.
