Ralph Paul Stevens

Ralph Paul Stevens, age 91, lifelong resident of the Somerville Community and husband of Bettye McKinstry Stevens, died Thursday morning, September 28, 2017 at his residence.

Services of Remembrance with Military Honors for Mr. Stevens were conducted at 2 P.M. Monday, October 2, 2017 at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Dr. Stephanie Patton officiating. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center – West Chapel at Oakland.

Ralph Paul Stevens was born May 3, 1926 in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of David Albertis Stevens and Mary Carl Stevens. Ralph served in the Navy during World War II on the aircraft carrier, “The Hornet”. He joined the Navy at 17 years old but was deferred until graduating from high school. While in the Navy, he attended Milligan College at Johnson City, Tennessee.

He was a lifelong member at the Oakland Presbyterian Church. There, he served as superintendent, Sunday School teacher and an Elder. Ralph was a past member of the Fayette County School Board and was on the Board of Directors at Fayette Farmers’ Cooperative. He farmed some of the land his family had farmed since 1850. He loved nature and saw something each day where he said “earth and heaven came together.” Ralph was a gentle man, growing up during the depression, he never threw anything away.

Mr. Stevens is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bettye McKinstry Stevens of Somerville, TN; two sons, John Paul Stevens (Marie) of Lakeland, TN, William Eugene “Gene” Stevens (Leeta) of Portageville, MO; five grandchildren, John Paul Stevens, Jr., Richard Stevens, Andrew Stevens, Ben Stevens (Becky), Laura Stevens Pointer (Stephen); and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, David Albertis Stevens and Mary Carl Stevens and his brother, David Carl Stevens, Sr.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were John Paul Stevens, William Eugene “Gene” Stevens, John Paul Stevens, Jr., Richard Stevens, Andrew Stevens and Ben Stevens. Honorary pallbearers were Miles Hilliard, D. James, Jerry Palmer, Jim Britt and Wendy Johnson.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the church, charity or organization of the donor’s choice.