Eugene Mark (Gene) Stephens was promoted to glory on Friday, November 17, 2017 at the age of 80. Gene was born on August 11, 1937 in Shawnee, OK, the third child of Bura and Wilma (Hardman) Stephens. He grew up in Okmulgee and with his mother's permission, enlisted in the United States Air Force two days after his 17th birthday. While in the service, he was stationed at Manhattan Beach Air Station in Brooklyn and Chateauroux-Deols Air Base in France. He was proud of the GED he obtained while in the Air Force. After honorable discharge, Gene returned home to Tulsa and began working at a Phillips 66 gas station where a young lady who routinely walked by on her way home from work caught his eye. Her name was Carolyn and they were married August 22, 1959. Gene was a dedicated firefighter for the Tulsa Fire Department from March 31, 1960 until his retirement March 31, 1980. He liked to say he retired from the TFD after 20 years and 30 minutes. However, he couldn't stay still. In the years that followed, his servant's heart led him to be a drug rehab intake counselor at Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital, non-invasive cardiology tech at St. Francis Hospital, and a volunteer for Meals-On-Wheels. He enjoyed fishing, tinkering in his barns, his puppies, OU football and just about anything that had to do with guns and WWII history. He was proud to spend time with his friend Bill W., the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. However, family meant everything to him and spending time with them was what he loved the most. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Paul Stephens, and sisters Dolores Koons and Geraldine Summers.
Eugene Mark (Gene) Stephens was promoted to glory on Friday, November 17, 2017 at the age of 80. Gene was born on August 11, 1937 in Shawnee, OK, the third child of Bura and Wilma (Hardman) Stephens. He grew up in Okmulgee and with his mother's permission, enlisted in the United States Air Force two days after his 17th birthday. While in the service, he was stationed at Manhattan Beach Air Station in Brooklyn and Chateauroux-Deols Air Base in France. He was proud of the GED he obtained while in the Air Force. After honorable discharge, Gene returned home to Tulsa and began working at a Phillips 66 gas station where a young lady who routinely walked by on her way home from work caught his eye. Her name was Carolyn and they were married August 22, 1959. Gene was a dedicated firefighter for the Tulsa Fire Department from March 31, 1960 until his retirement March 31, 1980. He liked to say he retired from the TFD after 20 years and 30 minutes. However, he couldn't stay still. In the years that followed, his servant's heart led him to be a drug rehab intake counselor at Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital, non-invasive cardiology tech at St. Francis Hospital, and a volunteer for Meals-On-Wheels. He enjoyed fishing, tinkering in his barns, his puppies, OU football and just about anything that had to do with guns and WWII history. He was proud to spend time with his friend Bill W., the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. However, family meant everything to him and spending time with them was what he loved the most. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Paul Stephens, and sisters Dolores Koons and Geraldine Summers.
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