In the morning of May 19, 2023, Fred Richard “Bud” Stevens passed away peacefully with family by his side from Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo.
Bud was born September 26, 1938 in Okolona, Mississippi, to Claude L. and Pauline Martin Stevens. He graduated from Okolona High School in 1956 and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry from Mississippi State University in 1960.
Bud married his wife of 62 years, Patsy Jeane Turner Stevens, in 1961, and they made their home in the Wren community of Monroe County, Mississippi, where they had three daughters – Debra, Patti, and Lisa. Bud was a devoted servant of Christ and a member of Okolona Christian Church, later known as Common Ground Christian Church, where he taught Sunday School and served as an elder for many years.
A lifelong cattleman and farmer, Bud was named Outstanding Young Farmer of Monroe County in 1971 and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Monroe County Cattleman’s Association in 2009. He was active in numerous state and local agricultural organizations. He was the director and chairman of the board for First South PCA for many years. He was also on the Farm Bureau board and the Monroe County Co-op board, and served as commissioner for the Mississippi Soil and Water Commission.
Bud was dedicated to his large family and found great joy in spending time with them through a wide variety of activities including riding horses, dancing at barn parties, water skiing, and snow skiing in Colorado.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Patsy, daughters Debra Stevens Nicholas (Allen) of Wren, Patti Stevens Monell (Don) of Huntsville, Alabama, and Lisa Stevens Womack (Kevin) of San Antonio, Texas; grandchildren, Anna Lisa Nicholas Roberts (Taylor), Kelsey Nicholas Dismukes (Garrett), Amanda Monell McQueen (John Mark), Julie Monell Baker (Taylor), Richard Monell (Ashley), Savannah Monell, Amber Womack Gore (Jared), Brandon Womack, and Jared Womack; 7 great-grandchildren; sisters, Carole McKissick and Patricia (Trisha) Wood, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Barbara Bryant.
Services will be Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 3 PM at Common Ground Christian Church, 30514 Hwy 41, Nettleton, MS. 38858 with Rev. Jim Forrest and Bud’s nephew, Marty Funderburk officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 1 PM Sunday. A private family committal service will take place at Lee Memorial Park. Holland Funeral Directors-Okolona Chapel is honored to be serving their friends.
The family requests that memorial donations be directed to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Way, Memphis, TN 38105, or to Sanctuary Hospice House, P. O. Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38802. Condolences may be emailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net.
