Margie Stephens

Margie Lou Holiday Stephens was born on March 2,1952 in Ashland Kansas to Teddy Lloyd and Vicy Jane (Brewer) Holiday. She attended school in Amarillo, Texas and Oologah, Oklahoma. Margie had many fond memories of growing up with her two sisters and four Brewer cousins, the seven kids were inseparable and constantly getting into mischief. Margie also had very special memories of her Grandma Marie, who helped raise her. She was very proud of her Texas and Oklahoma roots. The family moved to Ashland when she was a Sophmore in high school, and there she graduated in 1970. Margie attended one year of college in Alva, Oklahoma at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. It was during this time, a young man she had known in high school, Steve Stephens, began asking her out. This was the same boy who, while she was in high school her father would tell her, "Why don't you date a nice boy, like that Stephens boy?"  She agreed to go on a date with him in Alva, and two weeks later, agreed to marry him as he was leaving for Spangdolem, Germany with the U.S. Air Force. Margie left Kansas just short of her 20th Birthday and flew to Germany, where on February 18, 1972, her and Steve were married in Bonn, Germany. She often joked she didn't know if they were legally married or not since the ceremony was done while her and Steve were sitting and it was said in German! They would spend the first 4 years of their married lives in Germany and in Alamagordo New Mexico with the Air Force, before finally moving back to The Stephens Ranch to engage in farming and cattle.  It was here that their children Christopher John and Lynette Kelly were born and raised.  Margie loved being a wife and mom, while living in the country. Margie loved decorating and antiques. So, it was a dream of hers when they bought the old Dr Jones house in Ashland and began remodeling it. The house became a labor of love to bring it back to its original glory. Many hours were spent by Margie along side Steve, her parents, her Uncle Curtis and Aunt Edna and many other family members who helped make the house a home. Upon moving into Ashland, Margie took a job across the street at the Clark County Sheriff's office. She worked there for 20 years as dispatcher and records clerk. She often took her beloved chow dog Asia with her for protection and companionship, eventually, Asia would show up every night, whether Margie was working or not, to make the rounds and get her nightly slice of cheese. Her law enforcement family meant a lot to her and making sure the job was done right was her top priority. Children were one of Margie's passions, from loving on her nieces and nephews, driving the Lexington route school bus, up to taking in foster kids after Chris and Lyne had left for college, any child who walked through her door became one of the family. Margie and Steve would welcome over 15 foster children into their home after moving back to the ranch in 1998. Each one of these kids had a special place in Steve and Margie's heart and many of those kids still love to drop in or call to check in to this day. Two days before Christmas 1998 Margie received a call asking for a bed for a young man they had. He was a little younger than what she preferred to take in, but she agreed.  Jose Mejicanos walked into their home that day, and and instantly won Margie and Steve's heart. In 2002 Jose was formally adopted by Steve and Margie, making their family complete. Margie's favorite title was being Grandma. Her seven grandchildren were the light of her life. She loved nothing more than getting to spend time with them, or attending their functions and ballgames. Grandma Margie was always there to love on, support and watch her grandchildren grow up. She had such a special bond with her Grandma Marie, that she made sure that bond was made with each and every one of her grandkids.  Margie loved Christmas and would start shopping for the grandkids months before. The entire family would always gather for Christmas Eve. She loved having the entire family together. On a recent Christmas Eve, Margie had a gift wrapped for each of her kids' families and had them opened at the same time. Inside was a bag full of yarn snowballs, which Margie demanded everyone immediately open so there could be a snowball fight. The white balls of yarn began flying among all the gifts, wrapping and people and Margie was standing right in the middle of it all with the biggest smile on her face! Margie had many hobbies. She was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, serving in every office, including President. She was a very talented artist, she loved to read, loved history, and also loved to write. She could write the most heartfelt letters and cards, even text messages to her friends and family, that were a comfort and encouragement when it was needed most. Her favorite place to visit was Colorado, especially Stillwerken, the Stephens family cabin in Estes Park, Colorado. She loved the mountains and the sense of peace she felt there. Margie also treasured the trips her and her two sisters would take. The three Holiday girls had a very strong bond, and would drop everything to help each other. They spent many hours shopping, laughing and reminiscing their lives. Laughter was something Margie loved to do, in regards to anything in life.  Despite being sick for so long, she was always positive, never complained and always made sure to take care of others first. Her struggle with her health made her faith in God stronger than ever. She was preceded in death by her father, in-laws Jack and Jean Stephens, a nephew Bryan Allison, brother in law Ronnie Newton. Margie went to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday August 20, 2016 at Coldwater, Kansas at the age of  64 years. She is survived by her husband Steve, Mother Jane of Oologah, sisters Linda and husband Dan Sweeney of Owasso, Donna Newton of Oologah, son Chris, and Heather of Buffalo, daughter Lyne and Don Johnson of Minneola, son Jose and Meghan of Protection, brother-in-law Don Stephens; Seven grandchildren Damon and Kellen Stephens, Jalin, Julia and Jackson Johnson, Jenna and Jase Stephens.