Dolah Stephens, age 93, a resident of Hale, Missouri, passed away on Friday, November 21, 2025, at Morningside Center, Chillicothe, Missouri with family members by her side.
Dolah was born the daughter of Glenn and Sarah Spencer on April 30, 1932, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
Dolah devoted her life being a truly loving and caring person to all who knew her. After graduation, she worked a Sylvania tube factory and was able to buy her first new car.
Dolah was united in marriage to Thomas Stephens on November 17, 1951. He preceded her in death on June 27, 2004. To this union, five children were born, David, Sharon, Roy, Dan and Drew.
In March of 1962, the family moved from Pennsylvania to Trenton, Missouri, by August of that year, they had moved to reside in the Braymer community.
Dolah worked at the Braymer toy factory for a time, and then worked with the Head Start program for a year. She was a very skilled seamstress, for several years she did seamstress work for many folks. She was a great supporter of 4-H, teaching sewing to many 4-H kids of the years. She made many western snap-type shirts for her husband and sons. When David got married in 1973, she proceeded to make his complete suit for the occasion.
For many years following the death of her husband, Tom, she enjoyed her frequent travels to visit relatives, friends and just sightseeing. At times, she was able to spend weeks with her siblings. She attended the Black Oak Methodist Church, Braymer Methodist Church and then the Hale United Methodist Church. She sang with groups called the Golden Girls and the Sunshine Girls at the Braymer Golden Age Nursing Home and other residential care centers in the area.
Dolah is survived by three sons, David Stephens (Sharon) of Malta Bend, Missouri, Roy Stephens of Braymer, Missouri and Dan Stephens of Hale, Missouri; one daughter, Sharon Van Dusen (Bill) of Hale, Missouri; nine grandchildren, Jammie Stephens, Lisa Stephens, Jeremy Stephens (Heather), Laura Stephens, Amos Van Dusen, Adam Van Dusen (Kari), Jeffery Stephens (Crystal), Justin Stephens (Michaela) and Shelby Martin (Cody); eleven greatgrandchildren, Morgan and Makenzi Van Dusen, Makenna and Conner Stephens, Lucas Stephens, Bryce, Chase, Wyat, Catlin, Xander and Lennox Martin; brothers, Dean Spencer (Judy) and John Spencer; brother-in-law, Bill Bartlebaugh; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Tom; infant son, Drew; daughter-in-law, Sandy Stephens; brother, Arnold Spencer; sisters, Lorraine Hinton and Lois Bartlebaugh; sisters-in-law, Jane Hislop, Sam Spencer, and Edrubelle Spencer; brother-in-law, Gail Hinton.
Funeral Services will be held at Lindley Pitts Funeral Home, Braymer, Missouri, on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. A scheduled visitation will be held at Lindley Pitts Funeral Home, Braymer, Missouri, on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Friends may call at Lindley Pitts Funeral Home, Braymer, Missouri, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Burial will be held at Black Oak Cemetery, Braymer, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Black Oak Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601. Online condolences may be left at www.lindleyfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Pitts Funeral Home, Braymer, Missouri.
Source: KMZU, The Farm
