Donald Parker Stevens

Donald Parker Stevens 80 of Vallejo, California passed away surrounded by his sisters & family on September 3, 2023. He was born February 24, 1943 in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late Fletcher & Margaret Stevens. Don served as a marksman & missile man in the US Army where he was stationed in Alaska. He moved to San Francisco, CA after his military service and worked as a bartender for 50+ years until he retired. He married Sanae “Sandy” (Johnson) Caridis on December 25, 1992 & gained three beautiful bonus daughters with their marriage.

Don loved racing, especially the Indianapolis 500. He returned to Indy every year in May to go to the race & visit with family at our annual Memorial Day Reunion. In his youth he built a soap box derby car & participated in competitions, but he mostly enjoyed riding his soap box derby car on the streets around the Twin Aire area. During his visits back to Indiana, he also enjoyed visiting the club & bar scene in & around Indianapolis from the classiest clubs to the biggest dives.

He was especially fond of Jazz music and frequented the Jazz Music Scene in Indianapolis & San Francisco, where he met musicians like, Indiana natives, Richard Crabtree, the Montgomery Brothers (Wes, Monk, & Buddy), & his favorite drummer, Benny Barth, who also resided in San Francisco. Benny would return to Indy every year for the Indianapolis 500 Race to play at the opening ceremonies, and Don really enjoyed seeing him in both states.

Don always had a loving, compassionate, quiet, & calm presence that put most people at ease, and he never met a stranger. Maybe that was the bartender in him? He will always be remembered as the man with the jokes. He was everyone’s favorite uncle & all of his nieces & nephews still refer to him as “Uncle Donnie”. Sometimes childhood names never leave you.

Don loved his life, his family, friends, jazz music, good jokes & laughs, J&B scotch, and a good time. One of his favorite hang outs was Gentleman Jim’s Sports & Cocktail Bar, where he enjoyed the company of his friends & live music. He lived his life the way he wanted to & fits the sentiments of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” perfectly.

He is survived by his bonus daughters, Catherine Klicman (Daly City, CA), Diane “Dee” (David) Malabayo (Concord, CA), and Christina (Derek Jordan) Caridis (Daly City, CA); 3 grandchildren, Jennifer, Shelby, and Anthony (Michaela) Holliday. He is also survived by his 2 doting sisters, Doris Sellers (Plainfield, IN) & Joyce Godwin (Fairland, IN); Nieces –Brenda (Bruce) Durell, Joni (Eric) Phillips, Julie (Lynn) Rekeweg, Susan Godwin, & Margo (Christopher) Wills; and Nephews – Scott (Beverly) Sellers & Greg Sellers. He also leaves behind 19 great-nieces & nephews, several great-great-nieces & nephews, hundreds of cousins, and many friends.

He is preceded in death by his, loving wife, Sandy, their sweet Old English Sheep dog “Ling”, brother-in-law, Larry Godwin, nephew, Brian Sellers, and great-niece, Celina Farr.

Funeral Services will be held Monday September 18, 2023 at 12:00pm at Crown Hill Memorial Chapel located at 700 West 38th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208 with visitation from 10:00am until time of service.

Burial to follow at Crown Hill Cemetery.

Memorial Contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society or Indianapolis Jazz Foundation

Contact Crown Hill at www.crownhill.com or (317) 925-3800 for directions or information for flower deliveries.

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS