Virginia Belle Stevens, age 89 of Paris, Illinois, passed away at 5:35 a.m. Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at Eastview Terrace, Sullivan, Illinois.  She was a Telephone operator for Harris County Courthouse in Houston, Texas, a member of Bell Ridge Christian Church, and a past member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 7, and Amaranth.

Mrs. Stevens was born December 27, 1922 in Edgar County, Illinois to the late John and Linnia (Warmouth) Evard.  She married William O. Jones in 1941; he passed away January 18, 1997.  She married William C. Stevens in 1975, he passed away April 13, 2003.

Survivors include two daughters Ruth Ellen (Don) Newhart of Paris, Illinois and Cynthia Ann (Hugh) Black of Rosanky, Texas, a step son Clifford E. “Butch” (Pearl) Stevens of Carlyle, Illinois, a step daughter Judy (Ralph) Pike of St. Marys Missouri, fifteen grandchildren; Rita (and the late Jim) Hepburn, Vickie (Geof) Willmoth, Roger (Colleen) Newhart, Troy McKinney, Lynda (Jason) Landes, Kristy (Kurt) Speece, Brad Willmoth, Lori (Deon) Newton, John Wilson, Aaron Wilson, Allen Wilson, Sara (Keith) Gould, Chris (Johnny) Ziegler, Jada Stump, and Cody (Katie) Stump, twenty-five great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by two brothers Glenn and Robert Evard, one sister Betty Neal, one daughter Alma Jean Wilson, one step-son William “Willie” Stevens, and two grandsons Gussie Tallo, Jr. and Jeff McKinney.

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Visitation for Mrs. Stevens will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 14, 2012 in Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 14, 2012 in Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home with Rev. Kurt Speece officiating.

Burial will follow in Franklin Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Bell Ridge Christian Church Youth.