Sarah J. Stephens, 74, of Kearney, MO, formerly of Scranton, IA, passed away on Thursday, January 21, 2016, at Liberty Hospital in Liberty, MO.
A memorial service was held at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton. Visitation was held at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be held at a later date in the Scranton Township Cemetery.
Born on November 24, 1941, in Creston, IA, Sarah was the daughter of Thomas and Vera (Owens) Ferguson. She grew up in Lenox, IA, and graduated from Lenox High School in 1960. Following high school, she attended Northwest Missouri State University and earned degrees in Library Science and Spanish. She was married to John Dale Stephens on August 10, 1963, at the Clearfield Presbyterian Church in Clearfield, IA. The couple taught at several small schools before moving to Scranton in 1969, where Sarah taught high school Spanish and was the school librarian. She became the librarian at the Scranton Public Library following her retirement from teaching. While living in Scranton, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church, and active in the community. Dale passed away in 2009, and Sarah later moved to Lawson, MO to be closer to her children. In 2015, she moved to assisted living in Kearney, MO.
Sarah is survived by four daughters: Janet Hensen (Lance) of Seymour, IN, Julie Verdoorn (Marty) of Bentonville, AR, Jolene “Jodi” Stephens of Lawson, MO, Jerilyn “Jeri” Dobson (Aaron) of Lawson, MO; ten grandchildren: Stephanie Hensen, Ian Hensen, Zoe Dobson, Colin Verdoorn, Andrew Stephens, Jason Verdoorn, Diesel Dobson, Ilah Stephens, Nathan Verdoorn, and Kannon Dobson; a brother-in-law, Darrel Stephens; a sister-in-law, Barb Ferguson; and two nieces.
Sarah was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Tom Ferguson; and her husband Dale in 2009.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Scranton and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.