Raymond Weathers Stephens Jr.

Raymond Weathers Stephens, Jr., passed away on October 20, 2015 at the age of 87. His lasting legacy is his family and the love he devoted to them all. His additional legacy is his multitude of friends and dedicated former geology students. He was a voracious reader of nearly all literature. He loved all sports and was especially fond of fishing and LSU football. Professor Stephens is survived by his wife of 33 years, Loretto M. Babst Stephens, and his children: Anne (Amy) McMillan Stephens of Portland, Oregon and Raymond W. (Steve) Stephens, III, of Washington, D.C.; grandchildren: Stephens Marshall Dodson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Sarah Tanner Dodson Cote (Austen) of Dana Point, California, whose father is David R. Dodson of Houston, Texas. He is also survived by many in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He is pre-deceased by his parents and his first wife, Julia Ellen Askew Stephens. He was born in 1928 in Marietta, Georgia, to Alice Stewart Stephens and Raymond W. (Mutt) Stephens. His first year at the University of Georgia was interrupted when, at 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Stephens returned from the Navy and received a B.S. degree in Geology in 1951 from Georgia. Upon graduation, he married Julia Ellen Askew and prepared to start graduate school. His graduate work was postponed by service in the Air Force, and during the Korean War, he was the 1st Lt. Commanding Officer of an early warning radar base in Kotzebue, Alaska. Upon completion of his military duty, he attended LSU where he received his M.S. in 1956 and his Ph.D. in 1960, both in Geology. At LSU, he worked with the giants of the geology world, mentoring with the likes of Heinie Howe and Grover Murray. He taught and managed the LSU Geology Field Camp for numerous sessions. Upon graduation from LSU, he spent six years with Shell Oil Company in New Orleans as an exploration geologist and another three years as a district geologist for a small exploration company until the lure of academia called him back. He was a professor at the University of New Orleans from 1969 until he retired from academia in 1990, and was named Professor Emeritus. He also served two years as Assistant Dean of the College of Sciences. His favorite work was teaching the freshman geology, Subsurface Geological Methods and advising master’s candidates. His intro geology class was responsible for recruiting countless geology students. His business contacts allowed his students to get the best jobs in the industry. In his early academic career he was a full time Geology Professor while maintaining a part time position as a consulting geologist. In 1981, he switched gears and became a full time consulting geologist and taught his signature Subsurface Geological Methods course at UNO on a part time basis. Stephens and Julia Ellen had two wonderful children, Amy and Steve, both of whom continued to be sources of pride and joy with the addition of family and friends of their own. Julia Ellen passed away in 1975. In 1982, he married Loretto Morvant (Retta) Babst. Stephens returned to Baton Rouge from 1988 to 1990 when Governor Roemer appointed him Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and the State Mineral Board elected him its chairman. Stephens was the first person in Louisiana history to hold these two important positions at the same time. It was also in Baton Rouge that Stephens would come to appreciate his beloved Retta's professional and legal expertise first hand. Stephens was instrumental in forming the oil and gas operating company, Northcoast Oil Company, where he was active as a consulting geologist, adviser, mentor and all around geological expert, since 1991. Raymond W. Stephens, Jr. had a uniquely successful career which included the three pillars of the geological profession: industry; academia; and government. He served on numerous boards and commissions, had many scientific publications and received many awards and honors during his career. He was president and Honorary Life Member of NOGS, President and Honorary Member of GCAGS, recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from GCAGS. He had been active on the Vestry at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church and was a parishioner at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am. on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 6500 Kawanee Avenue in Metairie, LA. Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM at the church. Burial will be private at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate that memorial gifts be made to The New Orleans Geological Society's Memorial Foundation or to The Salvation Army.