Fred M. Stephens

Fred M. Stephens Freddie Max Stephens, age 81, a resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away Friday, March 23, 2012, at Morningside Center in Chillicothe, Missouri. He was surrounded by his family. Fred was born the son of Frederick and Georgia (Saunders) Stephens on June 2, 1930, in Bedford, Missouri. He was a 1948 graduate of Chillicothe High School. He then went on to Central Methodist College in Fayette, Missouri, where he played basketball. Fred finished up his education at Southwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. He received a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Northwest Missouri State. He was united in marriage to Joan Helen Peterson on June 16, 1951, in Evanston, Illinois, at the Congregational Church. She survives of the home. Fred was a member of the United Methodist Church in Chillicothe for 70 years. Fred worked for the Chillicothe School District for 32 years, where he worked as a teacher, guidance counselor, and coach. He was one of the first guidance counselors in Missouri in 1963. Fred was on the first Chillicothe High School basketball team that qualified for state. In 1952, Fred was the captain of the Southwest Missouri State University basketball team that won the NAIA National Basketball Championship. He played professional basketball for the REA Travelers, and both the Central Methodist and Southwest Missouri State Teams were inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He served as head basketball coach at Willard, Missouri, Marshfield, Missouri, Bon Terre, Missouri, and Chillicothe, Missouri, from 1953-1965. He was the first girls' basketball coach at Chillicothe High School in 1974. Survivors include his wife Joan of 60 years; one son Scott Stephens and wife Mary Jane of Chillicothe, Missouri; one daughter Pam Constant and husband Randy of Chillicothe, Missouri; five grandchildren, Lane Constant and wife Courtney of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Morgan Ely and husband Eric of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Claire Constant of Columbia, Missouri, Megan Stephens and Fiancé Nathan Keller of Frontenac, Missouri, Ali Stephens of Chillicothe, Missouri; one great grandchild Chloe Annabelle Constant of Lee's Summit, Missouri; one sister Alta Mae Davies and husband Bill of Gladstone, Missouri; one brother-in-law Paul Snyder of Chillicothe, Missouri; one sister-in-law Jane Peterson Fosum of Dallas Texas; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son Thomas Frederick Stephens; three sisters, Edna Couch, Helen Austin, and Marie Snyder; one brother Bill Stephens. Funeral services will be held at the United Methodist Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. A family visitation will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Monday, March 26, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friends may call at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Monday, March 26, 2012, from 12 noon until 9:00 p.m. Burial will be held in Wheeling Cemetery, Wheeling, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to the Festival of Lights or to the Nancy Calverd Shoe Fund and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, PO Box 47, Chillicothe, MO 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.