Harry "Buddy" Dean Stephens, Jr.

Harry Dean “Buddy” Stephens, Jr., age 65, of Crossett, passed away at Ashley County Medical Center on December 28, 2018.  He was born on February 11, 1953 in Crossett, AR, to his parents Harry Dean and Birdie Smith Stephens.  Mr. Stephens was owner of Crossett Welding & Machine Shop until his retirement in July 2018.  Buddy was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church of Crossett and a graduate of Crossett High School Class of 1971.  He attended University of Arkansas at Monticello and was a member of the Arkansas Army National Guard.  He was a past member of the Crossett Rotary Club, where he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the First State Bank board, a former member of the Crossett Riding Club and served as president of the Crossett Area Chamber of Commerce in 2001.  He was a former member of Prairie Country Club, where he enjoyed playing golf for many years.  He was also a former member of Big Island Hunting Club and Carter-Stephens Hunting Club.  He loved traveling with his family and friends and big game hunting around the world.  

 

Above all, Buddy loved his family and he loved Crossett.  He was very proud to support and volunteer with many community projects, including Project Graduation, the Crossett PRCA Rodeo and the original Wiggins Cabin restoration.  Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Dean and Birdie Smith Stephens.

 

Buddy is survived by his wife of 28 years, Judy Grubbs Stephens; one daughter, Cherub Alford, and husband Rollin, of Crossett; two grandchildren, Magnolia “Maggie” Alford and Callan Alford, of Crossett; two sisters, Susanne Stephens Maxwell of Conway and Priscilla Stephens Rodgers of North Little Rock, and a host of other friends and family.

 

Funeral services are 2:00 pm on Sunday, December 30 at First United Methodist Church of Crossett with Bro. Bryan Diffee and Bro. Jamie Staley officiating.  Interment will follow at Pinewood Memorial Cemetery.  Pallbearers are Stephen Toon, Robbin Rodgers, Brian Holt, Trey Grubbs, Jim Toon and Justin Reed.  Honorary pallbearers are former employees of Crossett Welding & Machine Shop.

 

Visitation will be 5:00 pm-7:00 pm on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at Jones Funeral Home of Crossett.

 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Crossett Public Schools Education Alliance, P.O. Box 2083, Crossett, AR 71635.