Private services for Andy Stephenson, 67, of Chickasha, will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery in Tulsa.
John Andrew Logan Stephenson III, “Andy Stephenson,” passed away in Woodward, OK December 26, 2020. Andy was 67. Born in Tulsa. Long-time resident of Norman, OK. Resident of Chickasha at Cottonwood Creek Living Center since June 2019, that became like family to Andy. Andy never met a stranger (person or cat). One of the Director’s at living center in Chickasha kindly got Andy a support cat that she named Precious and she “was” precious to Andy.
Before Andy went into nursing care he helped homeless persons when nobody else would for 12 years, 2003-2015. Andy was enlisted in the Coast Guard in the 1970’s. Andy volunteered teaching CPR and First Aid for Red Cross 12 years. Andy published an anthology of poetry, “Page Dancers.”
Graduated college with a 4.0 in music. Andy taught music writing online. Andy wrote, arranged, published and sometimes sang songs. The David Letterman Show wanted Andy to perform “One More Time America” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dd1X_cJnZKI on his show after 9/11. A fave song of Andy’s sister is “Born in Oklahoma,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-3I_bChCQw written by Andy and his mother, B. J. for Oklahoma Heritage Week.
Preceded in death by: Parents John L. and Betty Jane Stephenson at Arlington National Cemetery. Andy’s Grandparents were Tulsa lawyers, Logan and Ethel Stephenson. Andy close to his Grandma and she to Andy. Andy’s Grandma is mentioned in two books that the Oklahoma Bar Association placed in the OBA time capsule in OKC on September 2004: “And Justice For All” and “Oklahoma Pioneer Women Lawyers.” Andy’s Grandma was the first Oklahoma woman lawyer to be appointed to have cases heard before the U.S. Supreme Court. Andy’s Grandfather President of Oklahoma Bar in 1939.
Former newspaper boy for The Norman Transcript in 1960’s, Andy, won three contests getting the most starts for The Norman Transcript. Went by Drew then. Casualty of COVID-19 2020 pandemic like his Great, Great Grandfather Lysander Bellville Smith, a casualty of Influenza epidemic of 1918 (in OKC).
Andy lives on in his music, hearts and memories. Andy’s sole surviving blood relative is his sister, Alice Ethel “Pixie” aka SisSEA Pixie. One of their shared fondest memories was Vacation Bible School at the Church of Christ in Norman, when located at 291 N. Crawford until1967… Great Grandparents, Marvelia Smith Hill Campbell and James Campbell were church founding members in the 1930’s.
Family motto: Recycle Everything Positive to Recycle Including Kindness…
Services are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home, Chickasha, Oklahoma.