Lester "Red" William Stephenson

Lester "Red" Stephenson, 88, of Coleman, died Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio. Funeral service with Military Honors will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, December 12, 2014 at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 West Pecan Street, Coleman, with Rex Stephenson officiating. Burial will follow in the Brown Ranch Cemetery, under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

Mr. Stephenson was born February 5, 1926 in Leaday, Texas to Henry Stephenson and Mary Pinkston Stephenson. He grew up in Leaday and Hardin and attended school at Hardin and Mozelle. He worked for Banner Dairy before joining the U.S. Navy. He served in the Pacific Theatre on the USS Guam.

After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, Mr. Stephenson came back to Coleman. He married Freda Jones on April 2, 1947 in Coleman. For the next 35 years, Mr. Stephenson would work as Wholesale Route Salesman, first for Banner Dairy and later for Foremost Dairy. The opportunity came to move to Abilene and work for Gandy's Dairy. Mr. Stephenson moved his family and became the first Wholesale Route Salesman for Gandy's in Abilene. When the oil boom hit in the early 1980's, Mr. Stephenson went to work for Halliburton. He finally retired, and moved back to Coleman County in 1986.

Mr. Stephenson had several hobbies. He loved telling stories and visiting with people, bowling, fishing, playing '42' and even repairing old television sets. He had been a member of Broadview Baptist Church and Faith Baptist Church in Abilene and was a member of Bible Baptist Church in Coleman.

Survivors include his wife, Freda Stephenson of Coleman; three children, Randy Stephenson and wife, Glenda, of Clyde, Cathy Higgins and husband, Steve, of Abilene, Karyn Kane and husband, Frank, of San Antonio; one sister, Lida Mae Harper of Coleman; one brother, Hubert Stephenson of Benbrook; 11 grandchildren, Rebecca King, Toni Carr, Heather Brewer, Mindy Negus, JenAC.e Higgins, Cory Higgins, Talon Kane, Colton Kane, Krislyn Kane, Joshua Collier, Jonathan Collier; 15 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Jaynie Beth Stephenson.

Family visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 11, 2014 at Stevens Funeral Home.

Memorial donations in memory of Lester "Red" Stephenson may be made to the Brown Ranch Cemetery Association of the Leaday Cemetery Association.

Online condolences may left at www.livingmemorials.com.