Tehachapi News

Darrell Filmore Stevens

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Darrell Filmore Stevens went to be with his Lord on May 20, 2009. He was born in Rupert, Idaho on Sept. 5, 1926 and moved to California at an early age. He attended Tehachapi schools and was a member of the graduating class of 1944. He met the love of his life, Louise, in junior high and they were married in 1945.

Darrell served in the United States Army from Sept. 7, 1945 to Feb. 26, 1947. He was stationed with the 904th Air Engineer’s Squadron in Germany from Dec. 30, 1946 to Dec. 27, 1947. Upon his discharge from the Army, he returned to Tehachapi and worked for the Monolith Portland Cement Company, spending 18 years in the mechanical department and then nine years as a foreman at the quarry.

While living in Tehachapi, he served as Cub Scout master, Little League and Babe Ruth manager, Hunter Safety instructor, Tehachapi-Cummings Valley Water District board member, advisor to the Future Farmers of America and eight years on the Tehachapi Unified School District Board.

In 1972, Darrell and Louise moved to Vergas, Minnesota to fulfill a dream of owning and operating their own cattle, sheep and horse ranch. In 1992, they sold the ranch and retired to Canyonville, Oregon.

He was preceded in death by a son, Delman Stevens in 1991 and his beloved wife Louise on May 20, 2007.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed but forever remembered by his son and daughter-in-law, Lyle and Debbie Stevens, of Goldendale, Washington; daughter and son-in-law, Dixie and Tom Graham, of Tehachapi, Calif.; grandchildren Heidi Stevens; Brian Stevens and wife, Jaime; Shane Graham and wife, Andrea; Aimee (Graham) Searles and husband, Gordon; Lyle Stevens and fiancee, Katrina; Tyler Stevens and Katie Stevens. He was great Papa to eight great-grandchildren and leaves behind a brother, Dewayne Stevens, and a sister, Karlene Drain.

Darrell’s friendliness, kindness, humor and story telling will be missed by all who knew him.