Loyd Thomas Stephens

Loyd Thomas Stephens of Edmond, Oklahoma, was born on January 19, 1939, in Bailey, TX. He passed from this earth on April 10, 2025, at the age of 86. Loyd grew up in Borger, TX, and received a degree in education from Wayland Baptist University.

On July 1, 1956, he married the love of his life and his sweetheart since second grade, Jessy Judith (Judy) Upton. They were married for 68 years and blessed with two sons, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Loyd had an impactful career as an educator and coach, touching the lives of countless students and colleagues for 30 years. He began teaching in Ron, OK, and held jobs at Samnorwood, TX, Gould, Mangum, Weatherford, and Yukon, OK, before retiring from Oologah, OK, in 1990. In his retirement, he moved to Bartlesville, OK, where he loved spending time with family and working on various projects on Songbird Acres. He especially enjoyed gardening and bird watching, hobbies he continued when he and Judy moved to Edmond, OK, in 2017.

A loving and dedicated Pappy to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Loyd taught them important life lessons like how to fish, the value of hard work, and that “there’s a place for everything and everything’s in its place.”

Loyd is survived by his wife Judy of the home and two sons, Jesse Kim Stephens (Phyllis) of Piedmont, OK, and Kerry Gene Stephens (Sherry) of Geneva, FL. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Jessica Jenkins (Jimmy) of Piedmont, OK; Rebecca Stephens of Oklahoma City, OK; Kara Stephens-Weaver (Sam) of Winter Park, FL; Katie Duncan (Scott) of Merritt Island, FL; and Luke Stephens of Orange City, FL. Great-grandchildren are Jestyn and Jaysa Jenkins, Rhett and Emmett Duncan, and Miles Weaver. He is also survived by step-siblings Richard Woodson of Amarillo, TX, and Irene Ackerson of Tonkawa, OK.

He is preceded in death by his parents, TV Stephens and Bernice Lamberson and step-parents, Evelyn Stephens and Leon Lamberson; father- and mother-in-law Jesse and Jean Upton; sister-in-law Janelle Hale; grandson Kyle Stephens; daughter-in-law Debbie Stephens; and sister Janice Blain.