Nub Stephens

(From Parker Mortuary)

Roy Burton (Nub) Stephens, age 80 of the Belle Center community, West of Joplin, passed away at his home at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2013.

Born December 25, 1932 at his family’s home in Belle Center, he was the son of the late William Warren Stephens and Josephine Belle Jones Stephens and was a 1950 graduate of Carl Junction High School. Nub worked for W.R. Grace and Atlas Powder Co. He then moved to Pasadena, TX with Premier Petro Chemical to design and build a new manufacturing plant. On his return to the Joplin area he and his wife owned and operated Covert Electric Motors until his retirement. The company remains family owned and operated. Nub was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

Nub was a member of Central City Christian Church, Fellowship Lodge No. 345, AF&AM; Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Joplin; and Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple, Springfield and American Legion Post No. 13. He was a member and Past Exalted Ruler of Joplin Elk’s Lodge No. 501.

On December 26, 1954 he married Gloria C. Hall in Joplin. She survives.

Additional survivors include a son, Glenn Stephens and wife Debbie of Carl Junction; three daughters, Vickie Gilbert and husband Verle of Jasper, MO, Tina Schroer and husband Ken of Joplin, Belinda Fleming and husband Billy of Alba, MO; six grandchildren, Wendy Link, Zach Gilbert and wife Molly, Chad Hunter, Whitney Schroer, Kasee Fleming, Beau Fleming and wife Abby; and eight great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Willie and Dick Stephens; two sisters, Billie Anne Stephenson and Birdie Garoutte-Rubison; and an infant brother.



The family expresses their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Bernard Betasso and staff, Dr. Leslie Hamlett, Freeman Nephrology and Hospice Compassus for all of their compassionate care

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Monday at Central City Christian Church with Rev. Bob Simon officiating. Joplin Elk’s Lodge No. 501 will provide Elk’s rites. Interment with Military rites will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery with Don Miller, Larry Phillips, Jack Lemmons, Dave Ross, Terry Wilson and Don Short serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Rupert Spencer and James Walker. The family will receive friends at Parker Mortuary from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity.