WILLIAM C. "BILL" STEPHENS

PORTAGEVILLE - William C. "Bill" Stephens, 80, of Portageville, died Sunday, Oct. 4, at his home.

He was born Oct. 22, 1911, in Crossett, Ark. to Matthew A. and Melinda Nicholson Stephens.

On April 23, 1932, he married Allena Simer in Portageville. She survives, along with one daughter, Joy Ashby of Portageville; four brothers, Walter Stephens and Joe Stephens, both of Cape Girardeau; Harvey Stephens of Advance, and Charles Stephens of Bloomfield.

One sister, Lucille Stacey of Williston, Fla., one grandson, and two great grandchildren also survive.

Stephens was preceded in death by an infant son and one grandson.

He was a veteran of World War Two, and a retired merchant of Stephen's Grocery. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Portageville.

Friends may call at the DeLisle Funeral Home in Portageville after 2 p.m., today. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in Portageville, with the Rev. James McCrary officiating. Burial will be in the Portageville Cemetery.