Vaida Iris Stevens

1934 - 2022

VAIDA IRIS STEVENS Vaida Iris Stevens passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on December 11, 2021 in Oroville, CA. She was 87 years old. Vaida was born to Isabel and David Buckles in 1934 in Salida Colorado. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Stevens, her daughter Michelle Stevens (Chris Oshiro), her son Tod Stevens (Judy Stevens), son Mark Stevens (Jan Stevens), grandchildren Sabrina and Tommy Stevens, and sister Venita Lippert. The Buckles family moved to Portland, Oregon, when she was 10 years old. She graduated from Cleveland High School in 1952, where she got very good grades. Vaida took a summer job as a waitress working for family friends in Garberville, the heart of the California coastal redwoods. She caught the eye of a local logger, Tom Stevens and they soon became the love of each other's heart. They married in 1953. Word of opportunities to work on the great Oroville Dam project reached them and so they moved to Oroville in 1959. Vaida began college when their youngest child began grade school. She became the first in her family to go to college. She graduated from Chico State in 1968 with a degree in Biology, a minor in Philosophy, as well as a teaching credential. Vaida got her dream job teaching first then second grade at Ophir School where she formed life-long friendships with her fellow teachers. After she retired, she was active in the Retired Teachers Association, The Sigma Phi Gamma Delta Upsilon Sorority, and The Feather River Lapidary Club. She and Tom loved RVing, rock hounding with son Tod and family, and fishing the coastal waters off Alaska with son Mark and family. It was a delight to all to watch her fight in the catch of the day, halibut or king salmon. They loved taking their grandchildren to Hydaburg Totem Pole Park every summer to kiss the frog. Vaida and Michelle took wonderful trips together to Australia, Turkey and a cruise on the Rhine River. She is dearly missed by her husband, family and friends; she was our North Star. In Lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Vaida Stevens Teaching Scholarship Fund. Donations can be sent to Oroville Union High School District 2211 Washington Avenue, Oroville, CA 95966. Checks should be payable to with Vaida Iris Stevens Education Scholarship in the memo line. A non-denominational celebration of life will be held at Scheer Memorial Chapel in Oroville, CA at 1:00p.m. on March 25th. N-95 masks will be available at the door for those in need.