James Gordon Stephenson

1942 - 2022

James Gordon Stephenson
September 28, 1942 - April 19, 2022
Lexington, Kentucky - James Gordon Stephenson, 79, Lexington, KY, passed away on April 19, 2022. Formerly of Ashland, KY, he had also been a resident of Tampa, FL, Beech Mountain, NC and Naples, FL. He has had a home and resided in Lexington since 2008. Mr. Stephenson was born in Ashland, KY on September 28, 1942, the third son of R.M. (Mac) Stephenson and Rebecca Talbott Stephenson Jenks. He was preceded in death by his spouse, Katherine (Katy) Emrick Stephenson, his parents, his stepfather, Dan Hugh Jenks, Jr., a brother, Robert M. Stephenson, a sister-in-law, Ann Emrick Hancock and a brother-in-law, Robert E. Emrick. Mr. Stephenson graduated from Holy Family High School, Ashland, KY, in 1960. He received an AA degree from Saint Leo College in 1962 and a BS degree from the University of Tampa in 1964. He was awarded athletic scholarships and was Captain of the basketball teams at both colleges. Subsequently, he received his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1967, where he was selected a Member of the Moot Court Board. Mr. Stephenson was in the private practice of law in Tampa, FL from 1967 to 1977, having been a partner in the firm of Dixon, Shear, Brown and Stephenson. He joined Ashland Oil, Inc. in Ashland, KY in 1977 and remained there until his retirement as Vice President-Law in 1997. Subsequently, he was Of Counsel to Stoll, Keenon & Ogden, in Lexington, from 1997 to 2007. Mr. Stephenson was a Member of the Florida Bar Association, Kentucky Bar Association, American Bar Association, Florida Trial Lawyers Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association. He was also a University of Kentucky Fellow, a member of the UK College of Law Lafferty Society and a past member of the University of Tampa Board of Trustees and the University of Kentucky College of Law Visiting Committee. In addition, he was a member of the Cathedral of Christ the King, the Thoroughbred Club of America and the Keeneland Club. Mr. Stephenson is survived by his daughter, Rebecca Stephenson Gohmann (John) of Lexington, KY, and his son, James G. (Jay) Stephenson, Jr. (Beth), of Charlotte, NC. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Jack Gohmann, Lauren Gohmann, Elizabeth Stephenson, Ford Stephenson and Hugh Stephenson; one brother, Dan T. Stephenson (Barbara) of Indian Land, SC; a sister-in-law, Martha LaFon Stephenson of Naples, FL and Lexington, KY and a brother-in-law, William P. Emrick (Debbie) of Lexington, KY. Visitation for Mr. Stephenson and his wife, Katy Stephenson, who predeceased him by eleven days, will be held on April 29, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Lexington, KY, followed by a funeral mass at 12:30 p.m. An interment service will be held at The Lexington Cemetery following the funeral mass. The family wish to acknowledge and extend special thanks to Brenda Featherston for her wonderful care, assistance, and home management over the past year. Further thanks are extended to Kim Jennings, Joan Henderson and Lelah Jennings for their devoted care of Mr. Stephenson during his recent illness. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Michael J Fox Foundation, Donation Processing, P. O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, in memory of his deceased wife, Katy. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Milward Funeral Directors, www.milwardfuneral.com.