Eula Jean Stephens

Eula Jean Stephens died in peace at her home on December 22, 2014 attended by her family. Her parents were Dale and Mildred Shields of Ottumwa, Iowa and Wichita, Kansas. Her husband of over 65 years was George Gayle Stephens who died earlier this year. Her brother Robert also preceded her in death. EJ is survived by her brothers Kenneth (Joanna) Shields and Maurice (Ann) Shields; her children Lynn, Joel (Sarah), Scott (Suzanne), Jan Cathcart (Dan), Julie, Ken (Becky), Jean Lehman (Matthew); and her grandchildren Wesley Etheredge (Desiree), Jesse, Emma, Hannah, Lillie, Savannah Cathcart, Elisa, William René, and Sam and Ian Lehman.

EJ was born in Wichita, Kansas in 1929 and attended public schools on the west side until entering Central College and Preparatory Academy in McPherson, Kansas in 1944. She met her future husband at age 15 and he at 16, beginning his college career at Central. They were married in Wichita in 1948, and their early family life included moves to Columbia, Missouri; Chicago, where Gayle earned his MD; and Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where Gayle was stationed at Camp Chaffee. In 1955 they returned to EJ’s hometown of Wichita, where they raised their family of seven children in the Indian Hills neighborhood, sharing in building a great community of family, friends and neighbors that remained dear and sustaining to EJ throughout her life. In 1973, she participated in this same community building in Huntsville, Alabama where the family moved as Gayle’s career shifted into medical education. With her three youngest children still in public schools, she took on a more public role in her support of his leadership in founding the School of Primary Medical Care at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Her final hometown is Birmingham, where the family moved in 1977, where her youngest graduated high school, where her husband retired as Professor Emeritus from UAB Medical School, and where she lived for 37 years, longer than any other home, except for her beloved vacation home in Dillon, Colorado.

EJ was a leader in all her roles: active in her local schools and communities; a life-long member of the League of Women Voters where she worked for fairness and reason in our body politic; a supporter not only of the Arts but also of artists, an accomplished designer in her own right; a servant of her churches. Eula Jean was a beloved daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother—a vivacious, self-confident leader and supporter; a life-giving and life-sustaining soul who made the world a better place. May God’s light perpetual shine upon her.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 10:30 AM at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham, 1024 12th St South, (enter parking lot from 11th Ave S), with interment of ashes on the church grounds. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to St. Andrew’s or the charity of the donor’s choice.