Isom Lafayette Stephens

Isom Lafayette "Steve" Stephens, 99, of Layton, Utah, passed away May 5, 2014, at Chancellor Gardens in Clearfield, Utah. Mr. Stephens was born March 6, 1915, near Silver Creek, Lawrence County, Miss., to George Washington Stephens and Susannah Sills. He was the middle of seven children, five of whom lived to be more than 91-years-old. He was known as Isom to his family and friends in Mississippi, and as Steve to his wife, her people and friends in Utah. Isom was an avid genealogist and published two books, "The Descendants of James Monroe Sills, James Cliburn, and Allied Pittman Family" about his mother's people, and "Matthew Stephens, His Kith and Kin" about his father's people. Steve married Ida May Rupp of Taylorsville, Utah, on October 4, 1939, in Farmington, Utah. They were married 63 years. Five children were born to this union. Dad served in the U.S. Army as a young man. He worked at Kennecott Copper Company, Hercules Powder Company, and helped establish Hercules Credit Union in 1945. He then joined the U.S. Air Force, retiring after 23 years of service. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Isom was preceded in death by his wife, Ida; son, George Isom Stephens; parents; two sisters; and two brothers. He is survived by daughters, Carolyn Morring of Cullman, Ala., Marian (David) Irving of Layton, Utah, and Janet (Wayne) Nichols of Bloomington, Ind.; a son, Paul (Debra) Stephens of Farmington, Minn.; 13 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. A special thanks to his daughter, Marian, and her husband, David Irving for their love, companionship and care after the death of his wife, and the staff of Chancellor Gardens of Clearfield and Symbii Home Health and Hospice. Nickname:"Steve"Place of Birth:Silver Creek, Lawrence County, MississippiPlace of Death:Layton, Utah