Obituary: Ronel B. Stephens

May 11, 1946 – October 22, 2017

Ronel B. Stephens
Ronel B. Stephens

Ronel B. Stephens, 71, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 22, 2017, surrounded by his family at their home in Cape Coral, Florida.

He was born May 11, 1946 in Leesburg, FL to Marvin and Lula Stephens.

Ron joined the US Air Force in 1966 during the Viet Nam era, specializing in the brand new field of computers, and scored in the top three analysts in national test scores.

He went on to be a part of the team that developed what would later become the National Air Defense System.

After moving to Cordova with his wife Mary in 1972, he was employed by Cordova Telephone Coop and was a member of IBEW Local 1547.

But because of his love of boats and all that went along with boats, it was inevitable that soon he would try his luck at commercial fishing. After just a year on the Flats, he quit telephone work to become a full-time commercial fisherman. He spent much of his remaining years fishing the Copper River Flats and Prince William Sound, as a gillnetter, seiner and tenderman. His happiest years were spent fishing with his family aboard his boat the Alaska Legacy and being a part of the Cordova fishing fleet.

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He was a member of Cordova District Fishermen United, United Fisherman of Alaska, and Loyal Order of Moose organizations.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary, sons David (Madeline) of Anchorage, and Brian (Michelle); of Round Rock Texas; Granddaughter Devan Marie, sister, Kay Croft (Joe) of Dade City, FL; brother-in-law Jack Stevenson (Cherrie), of Cordova, nephews and nieces Ray and Samantha Renner and JJ Stevenson, as well as many other family members located in Alaska and Florida.

Memorial Services will be held in June in Cordova.

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