Iva Stephens

Iva Nell (Allen) Stephens was born on November 12, 1921 in the small East Texas town of Sulphur Springs. She passed away peacefully on August 20, 2015 in Plano, Texas. She married her late husband J.G. Stephens in 1941, and after his return from WWII they resided in Dallas. After his death in 1988 she continued to live in her family home until circumstances required her to move to assisted living, where she continued to make new friends as she had been doing her whole life. Nell and J.G. both came from large families, and as a result she was blessed with a whole slew of nephews and nieces, many of whom considered her to be their second mom. Nell graduated from high school during the Great Depression, and she often said "We didn't know we were poor because everyone around us was just the same." She didn't have the opportunity to attend college, but she was one smart cookie, and when her sons were attending the University of Texas, she became a lifetime Longhorn, following UT sports through thick and thin. Blessed with a quick wit and gentle sense of humor, she would always have a quip ready. A few days before her death, her caregiver came in her room and asked if she needed anything. Despite knowing the end was near, Nell thought a second and said with a grin "A few hundred thousand dollars would be nice." Nell was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Willie Mae Allen; husband J.G. ; and all of her siblings. She is survived by her sons Tom (Leslie) and David, beloved grandchildren Jeff Stephens and Allison (Harold) Black; her precious great- granddaughters Amilya and Ryleigh Williams, and all those nieces and nephews. A graveside service for family and friends will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, August 22 at Richland Cemetery in the community of Brinker. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the American Heart Association, the Edna Gladney Center, or the charity of your choice.