Roy Joseph (Rj) Stevens

Roy Joseph Stevens, Sr., known as R.J., Grandpa and Papa J., age 85 from Kemp, Texas passed from this life on October 20, 2012 in Dallas, Texas. He was born in Rosenberg, Texas on August 5, 1927 to M. Roy and Hallie Stevens. He married Pauline McKinney from West Columbia, Texas on August 2, 1947 and in August, they celebrated 65 years together.
R.J. was a Gospel preacher for over 65 years. He served as a local evangelist for 36 years with churches of Christ in Texas, Oklahoma and California. In 1983, he and Pauline moved to Kemp, Texas. At the same time, he decided to do full-time gospel meeting and singing school work, which he continued doing for churches throughout the United States until early this year. In the last several years, he served as an elder of the church of Christ in Kemp, Texas. R.J.'s passion for music was evident to everyone who knew him. From 1945 to 1951, R.J. studied music at Abilene Christian College, the University of Houston and Oklahoma A & M College. R.J. wrote, co-wrote and arranged hundreds of songs and hymns throughout his life. In 1987, he compiled and co-edited with Dane Shepard, the "Hymns for Worship" hymnal. In recent years, he, Dane and his son, Tim, published the Hymns for Worship Supplement hymnal. He was a member of the Favorite Hymns Quartet, along with Tim, Don Mullins and Dane Shepard, for 30 years. They released 15 recordings together. R. J. was also the director of the Oklahoma Singing School, conducted each summer on the campus of Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, Oklahoma. Over his lifetime, R.J. instructed hundreds of men and young men to become effective song worship leaders. He always believed that worshipping God was a privilege and that we had a responsibility to offer God our very best in singing praises to our Lord and Savior. Someone once said publicly, "R.J. taught us how to worship, not just to sing."
R. J. is survived by his beloved wife, Pauline, from Kemp, Texas, his children, Roy Joseph, Jr., who's married to Marsha Morrison, living in Pampa, Texas ; Timothy Paul, who's married to Vicki Mullins, living in Kemp, Texas; and Paula Sue, who's married to Rich Ladd, living in Roseville, California. ; seven married grandchildren: Greg with Mallory Stevens; Becky with Jonathan Helvey, Jeff with Tammy Stevens; Kayleen with Chris Dennis, Steven with Heather Ladd, Penny with Jeremy Simpson, and Katie with Matthew Stevens; and 14 1/2 great grandchildren - Johnathan, Tanner, Nicholas, Andrew, Emma, Ryder, Clara, Gracie, Tessa, Kate, Jude, Canon, Jack, Toby, and Aurie (due in December). He is also survived by two siblings, Lanier Stevens and Nancy Page from Madisonville, Texas.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 23, 2012 at the Kemp Church of Christ in Kemp, Texas and funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at Campbell Road Church of Christ and Thursday, October 25, 2012 at Southside Church of Christ in Pasadena, Texas. Interment at Columbia Cemetery in West Columbia, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the F.C. Scholarship Fund, 119 N. Glen Arven Ave., Temple Terrace, FL 33617, and reference R.J. & Pauline Stevens Endowment Fund.
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