Vanyla Jeanne Stephens passed away after a long illness on July 9, 2018 in Kennewick, Wash. at the age of 82.
She was born on Sept. 12, 1935 in Shenandoah, Iowa to Roland “Tex” and Helen Erickson Wilson.
Vanyla was raised in Echo and graduated from Echo High School in the class of 1954. She married Clarke “Corky” Stephens in August 1954. They raised their family in Umatilla until moving to Pendleton in 1978. Vanyla worked at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Pendleton for 25 years until retiring.
Vanyla loved her family dearly (especially her grandchildren) and enjoyed spending time with family and having the neighborhood kids at her house. She also liked cooking and being in the outdoors.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Corky Stephens; son, Alan (Carol) Stephens; daughter, Debbie Stephens; grandchildren, Jeris (Amber) Stephens, Trevor (Sarah) Stephens, Tim (Sarah) Neely, Randy (Katie) Neely, Robin (Todd) Winters and Aminda Neely; 11 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and sisters, Beth Picard and Marilyn Pratt.
No services will be held per Vanyla’s request.
Memorial donations can be made to the Echo Museum, Chaplaincy Hospice House in Kennewick, Wash. or American Cancer Society.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
