1932-2025
William (Bill) Nolan Stephenson, age 92, passed away Sunday, May 18, 2025. He was born August 21, 1932, in the Green Hill Community of Arkansas to Guy Edward Stephenson and Virginia (Bertie) Andrews Stephenson as the fifth of six children. He graduated from Wilmar High School where he excelled in practical jokes and running track.
After high school, he followed his sister's family to Texas for work. He was then drafted into the army during the Korean War and served his country in the radio communications sector. After the service, he found his way back to Texas. He worked in several trades, settled into the carpentry trade, and worked on the construction of many homes in Port Arthur, Texas. At the age of 30, he hired on at Neches Butane Refinery and remained employed there until his retirement 31 years later. Once retired, he fulfilled a lifelong dream, returned to his family homeland in Green Hill, Arkansas and enjoyed every minute of the 25+ years he was back home.
While in Texas he enjoyed many days on a boat in the rivers and bayous around southeast Texas until horses became a part of family life. He raised both of his children, and a few extras, on the backs of horses. He spent many years involved in riding clubs while being the Drill Captain of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Posse and the Jefferson County All Girls Drill Team. These drill teams performed at various rodeos throughout Texas and Louisiana under his leadership. Through most of the 1960s and 1970s you could find him in a single cab pickup truck, often with 5 people in it, towing a horse trailer for others to compete. He never cared to compete in the shows much but handled all the other aspects involved. He was the best stable hand, groom, and chauffeur and never let Toni saddle her own horse or drive herself to a show until she left for college.
He never missed an Arkansas opening weekend for deer hunting and enjoyed membership in several hunting clubs in Green Hill over the years. While living in Texas, one week turned into six weeks of the year that he would travel to Arkansas to hunt and visit family until he made it back here and could stay year-round.
He was such a happy man and could make others laugh often. Someone once asked if they could hire that professional storyteller for an event they were having. His laugh was unique, and some say his kids could be identified by that "Stephenson" laugh. In his retirement years his passion moved over to chainsaws and tractors. He cut firewood like a hobby and was still splitting firewood with an axe well into his 80's. He used his tractor on a nearly daily basis and loved moving dirt from one place to another. He was an active man, a man of strong character and loved his people deeply. He will be greatly missed by friends and family.
Bill is survived by daughter Toni Lynn Joyner and son-in-law Thad M. Joyner, of Arkansas and Texas; grandchildren Travis Box and wife Angela of South Carolina, Cashlynn McBee Gillespie and husband Seth of Hamilton, Texas, and Chaselynn McBee of College Station, Texas; great grandchildren Nat Box, Jolene Box, Springer Box, Layne Gillespie and Wiley William Gillespie. He is survived by one brother Travis Stephenson and wife Eleanor of Green Hill, Arkansas; and many, many special nieces and nephews. Bill is survived by stepsons Fritz Purgahn (Dino), Phillip Purgahn (Paulette), and Fred Purgahn (Marcella); with grandchildren Joshua Purgahn, Allyson Duck (Calvin), Monique Duval (James), Micah Purgahn (Brittaney), and Miranda Gallien (Thomas); great-grandchildren Eben, Joby, Jade, Zoe, Nathan, Eric, Kamron, Dusty, Cain, Mallory, Carter; great-great grandchild Beck.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Bertie Stephenson, wife Betty Stephenson, son Nolan Keith Stephenson, grandson William Henning McBee, sisters Jeanette Deal, Evalene Holloway, Ruby Lynn Stedman, and Bobbie Jean Rodgers.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 28, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 11:00 am at Stephenson-Dearman Funeral Home with interment following at Green Hill Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the Green Hill Cemetery Association, Wilmar, AR.
