On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, John Franklin Stephens Jr. peacefully passed from this earthly life with his devoted wife by his side. He was a teacher at heart and a builder by trade; he profoundly impacted his many friends and loved ones over the years.

John was born on August 14, 1936, to the late John F. Stephens Sr. and Ina A. Stephens at St. John Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was the oldest of five children: Patty, Glenda, Joe, and Joy. The family resided on a farm in Sapulpa during the majority of John's childhood, though they made seasonal journeys to California as migrant workers for various fruit harvests.

John attended school in Sapulpa and was on the wrestling team. After arriving late to class one day, John's eleventh-grade teacher demanded that he go see the principal. John's stubborn streak activated; he left school with some friends and promptly enlisted in the Navy. (His well-known temper was inherited from his mother Ina, who threw a dinner roll at him that night for enlisting before he had finished school). He spent the next few months working until he was old enough to attend basic training. John competed as a naval boxer, regularly sending money back home. During his four years of active duty, he completed his GED and two years of college work.

John met his future wife through a mutual acquaintance. A friend, Rosa Louise, had been raving about her cousin Evelyn, who had recently moved from Conway, Arkansas; she let him know where Evelyn would be for the evening so he could meet her. As a matter of fact, Evelyn was out on a first date, bowling. John was intrigued, so he dropped by and found the girl with long black hair and bright blue eyes. After introducing himself, he asked her if she wanted to ditch the bowling alley and go with him. Evelyn quickly agreed. John asked where her date's shoes were located and dropped them in the trash on the way out. Arriving home hours later, he woke his little sister and announced he had met the woman he was going to marry. Three months later, John made good on that promise. The couple celebrated 65 years of marriage in April of this year.

John heard about an abundance of jobs out west and was promised the opportunity to train as a journeyman working for the Carpenters Union. After five short months together, the newlyweds packed up all of their belongings and moved to California. John worked tirelessly to provide for their growing family: first Belinda in 1960, then Blake in 1961, and finally Sherri in 1962. When carpentry work was scarce during the rainy season, John tackled a wide variety of jobs: everything from Golden Gate Bridge maintenance projects to underground irrigation tunnels. John and Evelyn moved 32 times with their children while in California. They returned home in November of 1963 to raise their family in Sapulpa.

John genuinely enjoyed his career in construction and the satisfaction it brought. His favorite project was serving as the superintendent on the Golden Driller for Dallas Meade Constructors, and he was the unwitting model for the statue itself. In 1979, the Golden Driller was adopted as Oklahoma's state monument. Last year, Tulsa County declared January 30th, as John Franklin Stephens Jr. Day.

When he wasn't at work, farm life kept him busy. John diligently attended to his many responsibilities, but he eagerly anticipated fishing at the family lakehouse on weekends. He also developed a lifelong love of roping. John started with his father and then continued over the years with his brother Joe and his son Blake. He made many lasting friends in the arena and enjoyed watching Blake compete even after retiring his own rope.

In his later years, John relished learning something new on his computer, scouring Facebook Marketplace for a good deal, and watching tutorials on YouTube. He was a teacher through and through and took pleasure in sharing his knowledge with those around him.

John is survived by wife Evelyn Stephens; daughter Belinda Ann Spears and husband Donnie, son T. Blake Stephens and wife Kathy, daughter Sherri Lee; granddaughter Sarah Daniels and husband Brandon, grandson Neil Lee, grandson Joshua Stephens and wife Jewely, grandson Kyle Lee and wife Lindsay, granddaughter Kassie Prather and husband Riley, grandson Jared Warren and wife Rachel, granddaughters Taylor and Bailey Spears; great-grandchildren Kaitlyn, Annie, Pippa, Emilia, and Wesley; brother Joe Stephens and wife Kathy, sister Joy Ward, brother-in-law Eldon Horton, brother-in-law Gene Parker; and a host of other friends and loved ones.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ina Stephens; mother-in-law Mary Metrailer Gwatney; sisters Glenda Horton and Patty Parker; and brother-in-law Coy Ward.

Casket bearers are Blake Stephens, Donnie Spears, Neil Lee, Josh Stephens, Kyle Lee, Jared Warren, Brandon Daniels, and Marvin Lee. Honorary casket bearers are Joe Stephens, Riley Prather, Eldon Horton, Gene Parker, Dave Ohler, Kamal Elghadi, Larry Goodwin, and Tim Wadkins.

Visitation with family present will be from 4-8pm, Friday, September 27, 2024, at Traditions Funeral Chapel in Kellyville, Oklahoma. Services will be 10am, Saturday, September 28, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, with burial to follow at South Heights Cemetery in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Arrangements are under the direction of Traditions Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of John's great-granddaughter Pippa Prather or Porta Caeli House at Catholic Charities in Tulsa.

A very special thanks to Porta Caeli House for their excellent care of our beloved John and his family.