Vincent Ray Stephens

Vincent Ray Stephens, 56, of Erwin, N.C., and formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 4. Funeral services were already held in North Carolina. Burial was at Harriett Devotional Gardens in Dunn, N.C.

He was born Sept. 3, 1954, in Sharon, Pa., the fifth of sixth children to Annabelle and Howard Stephens. He grew up in Pennsylvania, where he graduated from Sharpsville High School.

Upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Navy, assigned to the USS Guitarro.

As a nuclear machinist, Vincent earned a Navy Expeditionary Medal. After receiving an honorable discharge from the Navy, he attended Eastern Oregon State College, receiving a bachelor's of science degree in business and economics.

Vincent was married to Cheryl Graves from 1980 to 2003. He was father to Leighton, Steven and Melissa. In 1983, Vincent accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior, a life-changing event.

As a church member of New Buffalo Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Duncannon, Pa, he taught Sunday school to junior high students.

His daughter, Molly Rogers, was born in January 1995. He enjoyed participating in Molly's life along with her sister's, Jenny Rogers.

As a federal civil servant and certified public accountant, Vincent was employed with the Naval Audit Service and Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Vincent is survived by his mother, Annabelle Horrell of Elgin; father, Howard Stephens of Meridian, Texas; daughter, Molly Rogers of Winston-Salem, N.C., and her mother and sister; stepdaughter, Melissa Sprout of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; two step-sons, Leighton Noble of Silverton and Steven Noble of Lykens, Pa.; four sisters, Daryl Logan of Elgin, Jan Phillips of Fallon, Nev., Joy Thornton of Mott, N.D., and Valerie Jones of Maricopa, Ariz.; one brother, Bruce Stephens of Elgin; and two stepgranddaughters.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons International Society.

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