To everything there is a season, a time to every purpose under heaven . . .
A time to be born, a time to die;
A time to plant; a time to harvest . . .
A time to cry; a time to laugh
A time to grieve; a time to dance . . .
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,4
In life, those who take the walk of faith find it filled with contradictions or paradoxes. Faith is an art, not a science which moves us forward for a season and then retreats. Faith is filled with decision-making and is daring; it consists of determination and dedication.
Life itself is filled with aggression and passivity, tempered with giving and taking, positives and negatives. Faith and life are necessary to achieve mountain-moving energy which allows us to reach our ultimate goal. So it was with Roger Stevens.
Roger Stevens was born December 1, 1964, in Fairmont West Virginia. He was the fourth child and the second son to Charles Stevens Jr. and Wyonia Stevens. He was affectionately called “Slodge “ and “Roger Dodger” by friends.
He accepted Christ and was baptized at Morning Star Baptist Church as a youth. He rededicated himself to Christ in 1999. Roger loved to cook; he was known as the “Chef” in the family. We knew Roger was destined for great things as a youth as he hustled to earn his own money by collecting pop bottles, cutting grass, raking leaves and shoveling snow.
Roger played basketball for Fairmont Senior High School where he graduated in 1984. After graduating, Roger took a journey clear across the United States to Seattle Washington.
He work ethic was rewarded with an extraordinary lifetime 32-year career at Boeing in increasing positions of responsibilities. Roger continued to work at Boeing until his passing on January 8, 2021. . He also worked for Steeler, Inc for a few years, 1993 to 1996, as a professional long-haul truck driver.
Roger leaves to cherish his loving memories: his loving wife Bridgette Stevens of Olympia Washington; two sons Roger Jermaine Stevens of Fairmont West Virginia and Darnell “DC” Stevens of Olympia Washington; his daughter Chantel Stevens of Olympia Washington; his loving grand-daughter Jaylee Stevens of Burien Washington; his loving mother Wyonia Stevens of Fairmont West Virginia; his brother and four sisters Charles Stevens of Federal Way Washington; Lorraine Stevens of Federal Way Washington, Irene (Kenny) Keys of Tacoma Washington, Sheila (Keith) Murphy of St Louis Missouri, LoTasha Stevens of Fairmont West Virginia; his mother-in-law Martha Lee Pilars of Detroit Michigan; his aunts Geraldine Johnson of St Louis Missouri, Lorraine Russell of St Louis Missouri, Lynn Renee Chaney of Fairmont West Virginia, and Jessie Wills-Colfield of California; and generations of nieces and nephews, and a multitude of cousins, friends, and colleagues.
Roger is preceded in death by his father Charles Stevens Jr.; grandmothers Martha Stevens and Lorraine Wills; and his grandfather Jessie Wills; his grandmother-in-law and his loving niece Carmen Stevens.
Thank God for the dreams he was given,
The goals he set,
The Hand that guided him,
And the invitation received.
“Come, ye blessed of my Father,
Inherit the Kingdom prepared for you”.