Ewell B Stephens

Ewell B Stephens, 89, formally of Othello, died October 17, 2014. Ewell had been living at Richland Gardens Assisted Living for the past three years. Ewell passed peacefully with members of his family and friends near. Ewell was born in Elizabeth, Arkansas Feb. 16, 1925 to George and Esta Stephens.  He leaves his wife of 70 years, Mary I. Stephens (Jean). They would have been married 71 years on November 23.

He married Mary Imogene Simpson, November 23, 1943 in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He was born into a family of ten. He is survived by one brother Ray Stephens of Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas and one sister Oualline Behrens of Colorado.

Ewell is survived by wife Jean; one daughter Ginger Niva (Dennis) of Arlington, WA; three sons, Gary (Archie) Stephens, (Cheree) of East Wenatchee, WA, son, Paul Stephens (Brenda) of Kennewick, WA and son Tim Stephens (Fiancée Joy Kaiser) of Kennewick, WA; grandchildren include Christina Crockett (Dave) of Arlington, WA, Lori Kratzer (Eric) of Carnation, WA, Jamie Stephens (Brooke) of Simpsonville, SC, Tyler Stephens (fiancée Ellen) Kennewick, WA, Jason Pegg (Lori) of Spokane WA, Bonnie Bennett (Ryan) Kennewick, WA, Loriel Bales (Jeremy) Kennewick, WA, Ora and Addie Stephens of Illinois,  David Kaiser and Becky Kaiser of Kennewick. He had nine great-grandchildren.

Ewell was proud to have served in WWII in the Navy Seabees. It was here that he learned the trade of heavy equipment operating which would be his life work as a crane operator.

His years in the Navy Seabees prepared him for his career in the construction field.  His work included working on the irrigation project in Adams County, bringing irrigation water to that area, building freeways in Portland, Oregon, and high rise buildings. He helped build Boise Stadium in Boise, Idaho.  In fact, on opening day of the first football game at Boise Stadium, he raised the flag with his crane. He was proud of his accomplishments as a crane operator.

Ewell and Jean lived in Othello for over 60 years, and moved to Kennewick the last 4 years. Ewell's crane business was Stephens Crane Service. Ewell work as a crane operator for over 50 years, retiring in 1987 from Local 701, Operating Engineers. He lived a full life, loving his family, working hard, raising horses and taking care of their place on Sunset Acres that they homesteaded. For many years he raised organic cows, Limousine's, Black Angus and Hereford, and many people enjoyed purchasing those from Ewell.

He always put his love for God first. He was a faithful member of the Church of Christ attending many years in Othello, Moses Lake and most recently at Kennewick Church of Christ.

Funeral Services will be at the Kennewick Church of Christ, 3926 W Kennewick Ave., Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 11:00 am and burial at Einan's Sunset Memorial Gardens, Richland, WA. There Ewell will be honored with military honors.

The family would like to thank the staff of Visiting Angels, Hospice and Richland Gardens for their caring and loving support during Ewell's last days.

For online condolences please visit www.AskHillcrest.com.