FUNERAL HOME

All Souls Cemetery and Mortuary - Long Beach

4400 Cherry Ave.

Long Beach, California

Doris Stephenson Obituary

Stephenson, Doris Irene Ryan
Doris Irene Ryan Stephenson, 1925-2012. Doris Stephenson died peacefully, with her daughter, Doreen, at her side, on December 1, 2012, at age 87 after a long illness. She was born on June 13, 1925 to Bill and Irene Ryan, the first of three children. Doris was very close to her siblings, Bill and Mary Ann, as they grew up in Wilmington and then in Long Beach, CA. A stand-out graduate of Wilson High School, she was also an avid volleyball player on the beach near her Long Beach home. That is where she met the love of her life, Bill Stephenson, and their romance developed further during their college years at Stanford University. A Phi Beta Kappa student and basketball fan as she watched Bill play on the Stanford team, Doris graduated in 1948 and worked at Moffett Field in Mountain View, CA. Doris and Bill married in 1948, returned to Long Beach and, over the years, had five children. She loved being a mother, and later a grandmother, and was really dedicated to helping all of her family with kindness and generosity. In the 1970s 80s, Doris was instrumental in helping Bill establish the successful W.W. Stephenson Construction Company in Signal Hill. She enjoyed bicycling with her husband too, and they went on many cycling trips around the country with their Long Beach friends. They also traveled throughout the world, visiting Europe, New Zealand, Japan and China. Doris is predeceased by her husband and her brother, Bill Ryan. She is survived by her sister, Mary Ann Johnson of Long Beach, CA, and five children: Kathleen Menzies of Annapolis, MD, Doreen Hagelin of Orinda, CA, Don Stephenson of Livermore, CA, William Stephenson of Hillsborough, CA, and John Stephenson of Bend, OR; 12 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at All Souls Mortuary, 4400 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, with a public viewing from 3 to 8 pm and a rosary at 6:30 pm on December 7, and a Mass of Christian Burial will be on December 8, 2012, at 9 am also at All Soul Mortuary, with interment to follow at All Souls Cemetery. To send the family a message please visit this website at www.presstelegram.com www.allsoulsmortuary.com.

Published by Press-Telegram on Dec. 6, 2012.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for Doris Stephenson

Not sure what to say?





3 Entries

My prayers and thoughts are with the entire Stephenson Family at the loss of your Dear Mother. I have so many wonderful memories of her in my younger years spending alot of time at your home on 27th Street. May Peace be in your hearts at this time of your loss.

Paula Iverson-Kidder

December 10, 2012

Doris was such a wonderful person. She had inner strength that just radiated from her. She was a wonderful role model for the girls in the Eddy family and we really loved her. Meg Eddy Morrow

December 7, 2012

Stephenson family God's spirit can infuse you with power beyond normal so you can endure the pain of grief. (2 Corinthians 4:7) I offer my condolence to the family.

Cg

December 6, 2012

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 results

Make a Donation
in Doris Stephenson's name

Memorial Events
for Doris Stephenson

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

All Souls Cemetery and Mortuary - Long Beach

4400 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807

How to support Doris's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor Doris Stephenson's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more