Lily Jane Stevenson

Lily Jane Hansen Stevenson, 96, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her forever loving children on Thursday, March 5, 2015. She rejoins her devoted husband of 61 years, Craig Howard Stevenson, who passed away in 2001. She was born on July 1, 1918 in Port Arthur, Texas, one of four children of Norwegian immigrants Adolph Severin Hansen and Marga Josephine Christoffersen Hansen. Lily's Norwegian heritageher love of simplicity and the beauties of naturewas central to her identity throughout her life. Lily attended Gulf Park College, the University of Iowa, and Lamar University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Speech. Helping those with speech disorders was to be a theme and mission of her life. Like all Norwegians, she loved all things from the sea. The Caplan family beach house was a place of refuge and restoration. She loved fishshe enjoyed sardines for breakfast, to the disbelief of her more land-loving husband and childrenand kelp and all manner of health foods long before our culture embraced this lifestyle. It was about simplicity and origins and moderation and harmony. Lily's parents joined the Presbyterian Church in the early years of the last century, and her lifelong membership in the church was the sure foundation of her Christian faith. She and husband Craig were active supporters of the church throughout their lives. Lily was a lifetime member of the Port Arthur Historical Society. She was a member of the Service League of Port Arthur, Rose Hill Garden Club, Symphony Club, Daughters of the Nile, Department Club, and Kappa Alpha Theta. She also served on the Lamar State College Foundation Board and Rose Hill Board. She and her husband sponsored the Rauschenberg Gallery at the Museum of the Gulf Coast and founded the Lily and Craig Stevenson Scholarship in Communication Disorders at Lamar University Beaumont. Her interests and passions included community workshe loved her native cityholistic living, gardening, traveling, music, and mathand learning and laughter. But none truly compared to her love for her family. She was kindness, gentleness, and graciousnessshe was courageous and cut from the finest stone. She will be a model to her family always. She was preceded in death by her husband and her daughter, Linda Elaine Stevenson. She is survived by her four children, Beverly Edwards and husband, Tom, of San Antonio, Sylvia Williams and husband, Jeff, of Port Neches, Craig Stevenson, Jr. and wife, Adair, of Greenwich, Connecticut, and Scott Stevenson of Port Arthur. She has seven grandchildren, Geof Edwards, and wife, Pat, of San Antonio, Jonathan Edwards and wife, Michelle, of Austin, Jeremy Moore and wife, Lindsay, of Kingwood, Jordan Williams of Buffalo, New York, Lauren Williams of Kingwood, Craig Stevenson III of Greenwich, Connecticut and Ashley Stevenson, also of Greenwich. She leaves nine great grandchildren to carry on her legacy, Skyler, Graycen and Finnleigh Edwards, Avery, Justin, Zander, Caelin, and Racer Moore, and Connor Williams, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Lily's amazing caregivers, Ester Henderson, Brenda Dugas, Dorothy Salsberry, Helen Blue, Edith Taylor, Jada Kyle, Monique Prevost, and Sandra O'Laye and the wonderful staff of New Century Hospice. A visitation for family and friends will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8, 2015, at the United Methodist Temple in Port Arthur. Funeral services will follow at 3:00 p.m. with Pastor Nathan Fleetwood officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park under the direction of Levingston Funeral Home in Groves. Memorials may be made to the Port Arthur Historical Society, P.O. Box 1374, Port Arthur, TX 77641, or the charity of your choice.