Sheila Stephenson

Sheila Rose Stephenson passed away on August 25th, 2023 in Austin, Texas. She was 85 years old.Sheila was born at the RAF (Royal Air Force) hospital near the village of Halton in Buckinghamshire, England on May 31, 1938 to her mother, Ellen McMullen Traynier and father, Henry George Traynier. She was the fourth child, having a sister, Ellen Mary "Jean", and two brothers, Bernard Leslie John and Derek Henry George. Her little sister, Ann Carol Gracie would come along six years later in the midst of an air raid at a London hospital.
She and her family traveled widely in her early childhood as her father was in the RAF during those years. They left England and lived in Singapore until it fell to the Japanese in WWII. The family escaped capture and she and her siblings and mother eventually made their way back to London via South Africa. She had a fond memory of seeing live penguins while they were there. Following the end of WWII, her parents ultimately settled the family in the crab fishing village of Cromer, along the east coast of the country, in Norfolk, when she was in her early teens. It is a beautiful place, and she took great solace in nature and the sea. She finished her schooling at the age of 14 years and immediately went to work to earn her keep. She loved children and went to work as a nanny, followed by employment at a Catholic home for unwed mothers caring for three babies at a time! She worked for a photographer developing and printing portraits, and following that, as a waitress. She always said that it was her favorite job. Her final work experience was as a bookkeeper for a dairy.
Sheila had been supporting herself for three years by the time she and her future husband, Charles Everette "Steve" Stephenson, met at the Continental Cafe in Cromer, following an outing to the movies with her girlfriend, Grace. They married in Cromer Parish Church in Cromer, Norfolk, England on November 19, 1955. She left her English family and her home in the summer of 1956 and she was immediately embraced by her American ones, the Stephensons and the Creekmores. She was very proud of her American citizenship. She gave birth to two daughters within the next three years, and traveled between Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, England, and Germany during the years following until 1973, when Steve retired from the U.S. Army. Her favorite part of being the wife of an officer and her obligation to attend the Officer's Wives Club meetings, was the volunteer work of that organization. She would bake cakes to serve to the residents of the local nursing homes they visited. She always enjoyed those interactions and felt that they were so worthwhile.
Sheila was a strong and private woman; a beautiful, thoughtful, forgiving and loving mother and grandmother. She always had a kind word when you needed it the most. She loved animals, both domesticated and wild; especially cats. She loved English tea, nothing fancy, just Typhoo or PG Tips. She loved jelly donuts. She loved to take walks, especially with her husband and always walked the dog twice a day when she had one. She was artistic and talented and enjoyed an array of hobbies during her lifetime: crewel embroidery, knitting, sewing, ceramics, calligraphy, gardening, and rug hooking.
Sheila was a perfectionist and as such, she embraced and elevated homemaking into an art form. She kept an impeccably clean house and was a world-class hostess if you were lucky enough to be a guest in her home. She's the only woman I've ever known who could single-handedly cook a meal, perfectly timed to be served, all of it, "piping hot." She loved to bake sweets and her artistic talents were evident in the beautiful cakes she made from scratch and decorated for our birthdays.
Holidays were made festive and memorable, especially at Christmastime, by her tireless efforts to create a wonderful experience for those she loved. She made every imaginable and delectable holiday candy, cookie, cake, fruitcake, Christmas pudding, and pie, that one could wish for. She prepared lovely holiday meals, and wrapped every present she gave so beautifully, that there was as much pleasure given by the presentation as the contents held inside.
Our hearts are broken and we will miss her dearly.
Sheila was pre-deceased by her husband of 65 years, Charles Everette "Steve" Stephenson, her parents, Henry and Ellen Traynier, her sister, Ellen Mary "Jean" Weaver, and her brother, Derek Traynier.
Sheila is survived by her daughters, Debbie Mossavat and husband, Mark Mossavat of Georgetown, Texas, and Sharon Hamilton and husband, John Hamilton of Hutto, Texas; granddaughters, Nicholette Lawson and husband, Kurt Antonini of Austin, Texas, Jocelyn Mossavat of Austin, Texas, and Brooke Mossavat and fiance, Thomas Warren of Leander, Texas; brother, Bernie Traynier and wife, Liz Traynier of Holt, Norfolk, England; sister, Ann Pope and husband, Reg Pope of Wood Norton, Dereham, Norfolk, England. She is survived by her cat, Tinkerbell, who has returned to her home of origin, with Sharon, Sheila's daughter.
The family wishes to thank the following individuals who truly made a difference in the quality of Sheila's last few months of life:
Tyler Huff, RN, Marleny Caal, CNA, and Chaplain Paulette Bilby of Suncrest Hospice Austin.
Edna, Samantha, Debra, Dana, Dorcus, Ferdinand, Kamisha, Lisa, Charlie, Josh, Vicky, Keitha, Cheryl, Emily and so many more of you, the Maravilla at the Domain staff, whose names have escaped us in this stressful moment but whose kindnesses and love were so greatly appreciated by her and us, her family.
We hope you will forgive us if we did not mention you by name.
You know who you are. You were her Earth Angels.
A funeral service for Sheila will be held Tuesday, September 5, 2023 from 10 AM at Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX 78628. Interment will be at 2 PM at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, 11463 TX Hwy 195, Killeen, TX
Sheila's funeral service will be livestreamed on YouTube Live at 10 AM CST.
https://youtube.com/live/b6yNrlQEgjQ
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldendavisfuneralhome.com for the Stephenson family.