RONALD E. STEPHENS

KANALOU -- Ronald Eugene Stephens, 54, of Lenzburg, Ill., formerly of Kanalou, died Saturday, July 18, 1992 at St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis.

He was born March 11, 1938 in Kanalou, son of Herschel and Lillian Drake Stephens.

He was employed by GTE Telephone Company and was a member of the Foursquare Pentecostal Church in Marissa, Ill.

On June 19. 1965 in St. Louis he married Ruth Melton. She survives of Lenzburg.

Other survivors are two sons, Randy Stephens, Austin, Texas, and Tom Stephens of Cahokia, Ill.; two daughters, Susan Schwartz of Fort Collins, Colo. and Rhonda Peoples of Plattsburg, New York; three brothers, Basil Stephens, Hartsford City, Ind., Kenneth Stephens of Morehouse and Phillip Stephens of Oklahoma; four sisters, Martha Wilkening of Matthews, Edna Bunch and Vonna Smith, both of Hope, Ark. and Darlene Alligood of Sikeston; and seven grandchildren.

Four sisters and three brothers preceded him in death.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today at the Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston. Funeral service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the chapel.

The Rev. Roger Crawford, pastor of the New Life Church in Waterloo, Ill. will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Gaylon Butler of the Christian Family Church of Sikeston. Burial will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery.