Melody Ann Stephens
October 25, 1946 ~ May 30, 2023
Age 76
Melody Ann Stephens was the daughter of John and Crystal Higgins. She was born and raised in Englewood, Colorado. After the death of John Higgins, Melody’s grandparents Charles and Eunice Sission adopted Melody. Melody met James E. Stephens Sr. while he was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, about 16 miles from Englewood. After graduating from Englewood High School in 1964, she was engaged and moved with James Sr to his next station at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, South Carolina where they were married. While there they had a son, James E. Stephens Jr. In 1967, James Sr was stationed at Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas. While there they had a daughter Tamara (Tammy) L Stephens. In 1970, James Sr was stationed at Royal Air Force Alconbury near Huntingdon, England. It was during those 6 years that Melody grew a strong interest and passion for the Royal family. In 1976, James Sr was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base and they remained in Omaha after retirement from the military in 1983 and considered Omaha their home.
Melody was a strong woman who was not afraid to try new things. Melody had a love for connecting with people and decided to peruse self-employment. After moving to Omaha, she started selling Avon and worked her way to the President’s Club where she earned their Albee awards for several years. Continuing to be an ambitious self-starter, she decided to take accounting classes at Metropolitan Community College and started Heavenly Accounting and Tax Service. Melody was a two-time breast cancer survivor. After moving into Keystone Retirement Villas, Melody worked at the front desk and was the Treasurer for the Resident Council. Over the past several years, Melody was in the hospital several times and the staff loved to spend a little extra time with her due to her joyful spirit and compassion for others.
Melody enjoyed being a mother and grandmother. In England, she looked forward to family trips, picnics and was frequently found with the kids on the playgrounds at Royal Air Force Mollsworth. There were many family camping and fishing trips to Omaha area lakes. Even after the kids left home, she continued to enjoy fishing in Indiana, Kansas City, Omaha and traveled to Canada for a fishing getaway. She was an ultra-fan of the Denver Broncos and enjoyed watching NASCAR racing. She loved to crochet and make blankets of all sizes for friends, family and children. Up until living at Keystone, Melody was of the Baptist religion. After meeting Robert (Bob) Williams at Keystone, she became interested in learning more about Catholicism. The past several years, Bob and Melody became best friends and loved paying cards, watching Gun Smoke, and listening to folk music. Melody decided to begin the conversion process to becoming a Catholic. She was confirmed on Mother’s Day, May 8, 2022, and became an active member of Mary Immaculate Catholic Church.
Preceded in death by her husband James Edward Stephens, Sr.; parents Sam & Crystal Arrell, Sr.; brother John Sisson; sister Priscilla “Cill” Grussendorf; grandson Christopher Stephens.
Survived by her best friend Bob Williams; son James Stephens, Jr.; daughter Tammy Jones; grandchildren Hayden Jones, Tasia Annabelle Wyatt (Joseph), Serenity Nevaeh Stephens; sister Stacia Ellison; nieces and nephews.
Visitation: Friday, June 9, 5:00-6:30 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m., Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 7745 Military Avenue, Omaha 68134.
To view a live broadcast of the the Rosary, click the link below.
https://boxcast.tv/view/melody-ann-stephens-mcngyzz7jyoee7fw6omp
Mass of Christian Burial: Saturday June 10, 8:30 a.m., Mary Immaculate Catholic Church.
To view a live broadcast of the Mass, click the link below.
https://boxcast.tv/view/melody-ann-stephens-wjhpzqtwgbwwpoiawwbi
Committal Service: Saturday, June 10, 11:45 a.m., Bellevue Cemetery, 1303 Lord Boulevard, Bellevue, 68005.
Memorials: Wounded Warrior Project / www.woundedwarriorproject.org
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