VISITATION: 6-8PM MONDAY,SEPTEMBER 2, 2013 EDDY-BIRCHARD CHAPEL.

SERVICE: 10AM TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2013, FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ~ OSAWATOMIE, KS.

MEMORIAL: STEPHENS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN MEMORY OF HER SONS MIKE AND RICK STEPHENS

Norma Jean Stephens age 84, of Osawatomie, KS died Friday, August 30, 2013 at the Life Care Center of Osawatomie.

Norma was born September 23, 1928 in Beagle, Kansas the fourth daughter of five to August Frank “Gus “and Flossie Mae (Matney) Loch.

She attended the Beagle school system and graduated from Osawatomie High School in the class of 1946. After graduation she worked for a short time for Trans World Airlines in Kansas City, but returned to Osawatomie after six months to launch her career at the Osawatomie State Hospital.

On October 16, 1948 she married Charles Clifford Stephens at her parent’s home just south of Beagle. The couple made their home in Osawatomie and became the parents of two sons. Charles Michael (Mike) born 1949 and Richard Eugene (Rick) born 1955 who tragically died together on May 22, 1973.

In 1970 after completing a two-year correspondence in medical records, she became an Accredited Records Technician, in 1978 she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Administration from Ottawa University and in 1983 a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Kansas.

Norma worked at the Osawatomie State Hospital, having started her career as secretary to the superintendent. She was promoted to Medical Records Administration in 1950, Registrar in 1955 and Deputy Executive Officer in 1982. She was promoted to Superintendent in 1986. During those years the Kansas Legislature twice passed Resolutions honoring her for her work and in 1989 she was selected as Outstanding Public Administrator of the Year for Kansas by the chapter of the American Society of Public Administration. In 1988 while serving as superintendent at Osawatomie, she also served as Interim Superintendent at Topeka State Hospital. Norma once said “I never had a desire to go anywhere else. I had no grand scheme, one job just led to the next.” She retired from her position as superintendent on November 17, 1989.

Norma may have retired from the state hospital but she did not slow down. She was active in civic affairs in her community having served on the Board of TeamBank, Miami County Medical Center Charitable Board, Osawatomie Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Committee, PRIDE Committee, and the State Hospital Citizens’ Advisory Board. In 1993 she also received the community’s Citizen Service Award. She served as Mayor of Osawatomie for two years and twice received Business Woman of the Year award from the Business and Professional Women’s organizations. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Osawatomie serving her church in a variety of capacities and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

In 1990 Norma and Clifford received the gift of a Goddaughter Kara Leyana Teng. They loved Kara as though she were a grandchild and spent many happy hours with her.

Norma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Clifford in March of 2000, her sister Helen McBride and her two sons in a tragic accident while trimming trees in 1973. Her strong faith allowed her to survive tragedy and to continue to live life to the fullest. In memory of their sons, she and her husband established the Mike and Rick Stephens Scholarship Fund which is presented yearly to many outstanding students in music and athletics at Osawtomie High School.

She is survived by her sisters: Katherine Haas Dalton of LaCygne, KS, Elsie Wilson of Osawatomie, Sharon Stites (Harold) of Tucson, AZ and her beloved Goddaughter Kara Teng of Honolulu, Hawaii: and many nieces and nephews: extended family members including the Mills family and a host of long time friends.