Friday 29th March 2024

fred-w-stevens

Fred W. Stevens, 80, of Slater, died Sunday, September 25, 2022 at Big Bed Retreat in Slater.

 

Funeral services will be Friday, September 30, 2022 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Fr. Francis Doyle officiating.  Burial will be in Miami Cemetery, with Michael Hirt, Jacob Mix, Shawn Stidam, Bill Deters, Patrick Deters, and Zach Lemmon serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be Thursday, September 29, 2022 from 6:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Weiker Funeral Home in Slater.  Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

 

Born July 4, 1942 in Bowling Green, he was the son of the late Malcolm and Dora Cox Stevens.  He was married to Linda Whiteside, and she survives of Elsberry.  On August 1, 1987 in Marshall, he married Paula D. Meyer, and she preceded him in death November 23, 2004.

 

He is survived by a daughter, Jennifer R. Smith of rural Marshall; a son, Michael Hirt of Miami; five grandchildren, Beckem Smith, Ava Smith, Mikaela Hirt, Mariah Hirt, and Michael Hirt, II; a sister, Gayle Stidam of Centralia; and a step-brother, John Nelson of Hallsville.  He was preceded in death by a sister Sandy Staton; and a son-in-law, Malcolm Smith.

 

Mr. Stevens was of the Catholic faith.  He was a graduate of Forest Park College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis.  He had previously owned a funeral home in Wheaton, Missouri before working as a funeral director and embalmer for Sweeney-Reser-Wills Funeral Home in Marshall.  He later owned and operated Freddie’s Restaurant in Miami, where he also served as Mayor of Miami for several years.  He later worked for Bryan Funeral Home in Hoxie, Arkansas until his retirement.