Marvin Merle Stephens (Steve) passed away at his home in Fayetteville, AR this past Sunday, May 29, 2022. He was born on February 2, 1931 to Charles I. and Leah T. (Trussell) Stephens in the Sellwood district of Portland, OR. He was the youngest of eight children. He married Constance J. Neddo on May 2, 1959 in Fort Riley, KS. Together they had three children. He is survived by his wife Connie, his children, Stephanie and Sheldon Jensen of Fayetteville, AR, Jay and Leona Stephens of Ogdensburg, NJ, Susan and John Doryk of Colorado Springs, CO, and his five grandchildren, Daniel and Samuel Jensen of Fayetteville, AR, Nicole Stephens of Boston, MA, Emily Greer and Stephen Doryk of Colorado Springs, CO, and cousin Charles Bailey and his wife Dorothy of Roseburg, OR, along with numerous nieces and nephews in the Pacific Northwest.

He graduated from Cleveland Commerce High School and attended Multnomah Community College. He joined the United States Army in 1951, reporting for basic training at Camp Roberts, CA. From there, he received a commission from Officer Candidate School into the Transportation Corps at Fort Riley, KS. He was stationed in Seattle, WA, Korea, Japan, Fort Riley, KS, the Azores, Fort Eustis, VA, Greece, Vietnam, and Toledo, OH where he was the Commander of the Great Lakes Out Ports. His last assignment was in Panama. He retired from the Army in 1971 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He loved serving his country and wore his uniform proudly. After retiring from the Army, he started his second career working in the shipping industry at the Port of Miami, FL for Canadian Gulf Lines, Eller & Company, and Continental Stevedoring & Terminal as a Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He was a man of his word and his handshake was his legal contract. He enjoyed getting up every morning and going to work. He retired a second time in 1995.

He loved traveling the world with his beloved Connie, chauffeuring his grandsons to and from school, traveling the country to watch his grandchildren play sports and perform their musical talents, and visiting friends around the world. He loved his family passionately. He had an amazing life. Words cannot begin to express how much he was loved. He will be greatly missed.

Interment will be at Fayetteville National Cemetery.