Mary Stephens

She was born on September 26, 1922 in Stillmore, Georgia. to Fred and Ruth Glover and was one of five children . Mary joined the WAVES (USN) in 1943 and served both active and reserve duty until 1953. After being honorably discharged she was entitled to wear the WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal and the National Defense Medal.

Mary met Clyde Rowan Stephens while they were both stationed in Hawaii and they were later married on October 12, 1952. They traveled the world throughout his military career, with their two children, until settling in Tampa, Florida in 1966 after her husbands’ retirement from the Navy. She remained active in military as a member of the local retired Waves group. Mary had a passion for reading, working crossword puzzles and she loved her family and friends. Having a wicked sense of humor, she always kept us laughing. She was proudest that at age 90, she still had all of her own teeth (which she still had upon her passing). She never had a bad thing to say about anyone, never met a stranger and always had a smile on her face. She moved to an assisted living facility in Sun City in 2014. She said that other residents complained about the food but she didn’t understand why. She said it was warm and she didn’t have to cook it (she hated cooking almost as much as she cared about eating).

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years in 2015. She is survived by one brother, Harold Glover as well as her children, Carl Ray Stephens ( Cathryn) Vicki Lynn Stephens DeCanniere (Vaughan), five grandchildren, Justin Miller and Jeffrey Reed Giles, Amanda Elizabeth, Carl Rowan, and Christian Riley Stephens and three great-grandchildren.Mary was placed to rest next to her husband Clyde at Sarasota National Cemetery

The family asks that donations be given to the Alzheimer’s Association in Mary’s name

act.alz.org/site/donation/TR

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Mary Glover Stephens