Gene Butch Stephens

Gene Alton “Butch” Stephens, age 71 passed away May 01, 2022, at Texas Health Harris in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Born to John Alton Stephens and Billy Doyce Jeanes, July 11, 1950, in McKinney, Texas. His Dad quickly gave him the nickname “Butch”. All his family members know him by “Butch”, which some do not recognize Gene, when referring to Gene Stephens. He was of the Baptist faith. He graduated from McKinney High School in 1968. He attended some colleges. He married his school sweetheart, Nancee Davis and moved to Houston, where he started his career in sales and a tractor dealership. Stacy, their daughter was born. Later, they moved to Greenville and he and his father-in-law, Bill Davis, opened Lee Street Hamburger across from the courthouse.

Later he was in tractor sales and insurance with Humana and AFLAC.

He met Georgia and their love relationship continued for 18 years, finally marrying on 08-08-2008 at Mt. Charleston, Nevada, that union for 32 years. He recruited Georgia to AFLAC and that was the beginning of a lot of hard work and playing on AFLAC trips and making lasting AFLAC friendships.

Gene loved playing golf with his buddies across Texas and many places. He always loved a party. He loved going fishing at the lakes and the farm, which he thought he worked so hard there. He spent his days watching TV, westerns and sports, etc., he should have gone on the games shows and won money. He was known for washing his truck every day, until his knee and back pain took a toll. He went on his route every day to the post office, to the laundromat to see Frank and buy lottery tickets and you could always set your watch by him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Billy Stephens and several family members.

Gene is survived by his wife, Georgia (Tucker) Knabe- Stephens, his daughter, Stacy and Scott Olson, grandsons, Jacob and Cory, his son, Stephen and Jennifer Messick, grandchildren, Madison and fiancé, Daniel Trigo and Tucker Messick, brother, James “Rusty” and Andrea Stephens, nieces, DaLaine and Jason Donaldson and Jeralyn and Ryan Novak and Clara, uncles, aunts and cousins and many friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, June 12 at 2:00 PM at the Texas Star Golf and Conference Center, 1400 Texas Star Pkwy., Euless, Texas 76040. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Clarksville Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:  Savannah Cemetery  P. O. Box 292

Annona, Texas 75550.

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