Larry Stephens

Larry R. Stephens master teacher, cowboy, accomplished traveler, card shark, and poor speller, born on November 10, 1940 to Ralph and Agnes (Fitzsimmons) Stephens died on January 1, 2016. The Stephens family lost their beloved husband and father after a long fight against renal disease and resulting heart complications.

Larry loved biscuits and gravy, old westerns, his family, his students, horseshoes, Risk, American history, baseball and community theater. Not necessarily in that order. He proudly achieved his goal of visiting every American president’s grave and sat in all but two national baseball stadiums. He visited every state except Hawaii. It was in the works.

Larry was born and raised in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He began his formal working life as a young boy delivering papers for the Nonpareil Newspaper. He worked his way through college as a Good Humor man, selling ice cream in his bell clad jeep. He and Betty met as ambassadors for Nebraska Christian College in a singing quartet which travelled to churches all over Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas. They married on August 25, 1965 and settled in Kirksville, Missouri where he began his university teaching career.

In his history classroom of 36 years, Larry could make a person feel like they had a front row seat to any event in the American past. He delighted his students in Violet Hall with his reenactments of important historical events, dressing in costume as General Meade, various presidents and cowboys to recreate famous historic moments to drive home important concepts. He once held a sing-along of civil war songs, and folk tunes, with students and guitars overflowing the sunken garden on the Truman University campus. With a big heart, Larry was known to subsidize a few starving students and pay for text books over the years. He was a giver. He was proud to have started the Big Brother and Big Sister program in Kirksville, and serve as a member of the National Humanities organization. He recruited students to help renovate Pytryla Park and led historical restoration projects around Adair and Schulyer Counties.

Larry’s most cherished role was serving as the number one fan for all activities of his three children, Tally, Libby and Tyler and their friends throughout their school years, especially sports and History Day competitions. He took the girls with him as he led summer history bus tours for college students and senior citizens to all parts of the country. Tally and Libby preferred the Broadway shows and beaches to the Civil War battle fields but they marveled at their father’s knowledge and panache.

As a father and little league baseball coach, Larry wore his heart on his jersey sleeve. He and other dedicated dads helped develop a lineage of healthy sportsmanship amongst their children. As his Firebirds team was finishing their Jr. Babe Ruth season at 10-0 with one game to play, he was bursting with pride. Winning this last game would grant his career wish of coaching his son’s all star team in the state tournament. Facing their toughest competition yet, he coached to win and he played every kid to do it, providing them all with a life-long extra inning memory. Following the win Larry presented each with a pre-printed t-shirt displaying 11-0 league champions. But with what he taught them about life and the game, they had all, already won. "Keep your tailgate down Stephens."

Larry was a romantic, sentimental person. He was a wonderful host and generous soul. Our home was full of friends and students – playing cards, “This is a What” game or making large batches of gingerbread cookies assembly line style together. He was known for his goulash and New Years Eve Cherries Jubilee (overlooking the year our kitchen caught fire).

When Larry became sick enough to need dialysis, he retained his sense of humor and spirit. He told stories to entertain the nurses who cared for him regularly. After moving to Columbia, he cultivated new friendships with a new care giving staff. We are grateful to the DCI Dialysis Clinic in Kirksville and Columbia Davita Dialysis Center. They are angels.

Larry leaves behind a legacy of rich memories to his survivors: Betty Stephens his wife of 50 years, four months and two days, his children, Libby Stephens Hillenbrand and spouse Thomas Hillenbrand, Tyler Stephens and spouse Janeanne Sadler Stephens and three grandchildren, Tally Ann Birdie and Thomas Joseph Hillenbrand 1 ½ and Jillian Jane Stephens, 3 ½, his sister, Karen Stephens Jenkins, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and many loving nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death is a daughter, Tally Jill Stephens.

The family will receive friends at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer funeral chapel on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at Noon with a celebration service following at 1:00 pm. Larry will be laid to rest at Maple Hills Cemetery.

Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home
2100 E. Shepherd Ave.
Kirksville, MO 63501 660-665-2233

Gifts in memory of Larry can be made to the National Kidney Foundation or to “Puppy Love for Tally” which benefits the Adair County Humane Society.