Kathleen Stephens

Kathleen “Kate” Stephens, 84 years old, beloved wife, mother, Grammy and Memaw passed away on July 18, 2024.

Kate was born on February 26, 1940 to James and Kathleen Nixon in Kansas City, Missouri. Kate will always be remembered for her kind heart and sharp wit.

Kate met the love of her life, J.M. “Steve” Stephens, while attending Southwest High School. A first date at age 16 turned into a lifetime of love. Kate and Steve were married on August 26, 1960 at Christ the King Church. They were married for nearly 64 wonderful years.

Kate worked as an Executive Secretary at Farmer’s Insurance Company for 20+ years. During that time, she was always involved in her children and grandchildren’s school activities/sports. She was also a huge fan of KU Basketball and cheered them onto their three National Championships. Kate also loved anything and everything that pertained to the Titanic. She was an avid member of the Titanic Historical Society.

Steve and Kate loved to travel. They took many trips to Europe, visiting England, Ireland, Scotland, Paris (where she cried seeing the Arc de Triomphe), Germany, and Switzerland. They also loved spending time at the beach, swimming in the ocean and enjoying the beautiful white sands of Siesta Key, Florida. They loved walking on the beach at sunset, with Kate wearing one of her many “Memaw hats” as her granddaughter, Hayley, nicknamed them. Once Kate and Steve retired, they purchased a winter home in Mesa, Arizona. During their 18 years in Arizona, they made many wonderful lifelong friends through the various clubs they joined.

Kate and Steve shared a love so strong; they were each other’s best friends. Anyone that knew them saw that amazing bond. Their granddaughter, Hayley, described their marriage and love as “relationship goals”. So true.

Kate is survived by her loving husband, Steve Stephens; daughter Kelly Robinson (Tracy); son Brent Stephens; granddaughter Hayley Robinson; grandsons Michael and Kyle Glynos; sister Marilyn Schudy and many nieces and nephews.

Kate was preceded in death by her parents, James and Kathleen Nixon; her brothers James and Donald and her sister Elizabeth “Betty”.
Services will be held at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, Olathe Kansas on Friday, July 26, 2024.

Visitation starts at 2:00pm with the service to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

To share a memory of Kathleen or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.