Pearl Stevens

LOUP CITY — Pearl Marie (Karnes) Stevens, 100, passed away Thursday, March 28, 2013, at Rose Lane Home in Loup City. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. Burial will be in the Merna Cemetery. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Mrs. Stevens was born Nov. 29, 1912, at the family farm in Anselmo. She was the fifth child of six children born to Walter Michael and Mary Catherine (Ward) Karnes. She loved growing up on the farm with all the animals to care for after coming home from school. She attended New Helena and Karnes country schools and Anselmo High School. While attending Karnes country school she as the only girl enrolled with 11 boys. Her love of pitching softball and all other sports continued throughout her lifetime. She could be seen sitting in bleachers watching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and children of friends compete. She was married to Herbert N. Stevens on July 7, 1934, at the home of his mother in Merna. They had to wait until the Rev. Phillips finished performing in the Saturday evening band concert to officiate at the ceremony. Five children were born to this union, Ruth Janett, Donna Elaine, Donald Dee, Glenna Jean and Carolyn Lea. Her hands were always busy as a wife, mother and homemaker. She worked outside of the home as a clerk at the Davolt Grocery, cook and pie maker for the Merna Cafe and 25 years at the Broken Bow Dairy Queen. Raising a garden and canning the produce was a favorite pastime for her and Herbert. They shared their harvest with family and the Merna community. Pearl loved to sew, embroidery, piece quilts and crochet. All her family has beautiful keepsakes of her meticulous handwork. Her family grew in numbers to 86 member and she always remembered all the birthdays with a greeting card as long as her health allowed. Pearl celebrated her 100th birthday Nov. 29, 2012, at a party hosted by her family. She danced the first dance with her son, Don. The community of Merna has always been a blessing for the Stevens family. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Herbert, daughters, Donna and Carolyn, son-in-law, Bennie Markham, a grandson and a granddaughter, one sister, Dorothy Wanitschke and four brothers, Walter, Roy, Harry and Willie. Surviving family members left to cherish our wonderful memories are two daughters and a son-in-law, Ruth and Jerry Sloggett and Glenna Markham; a son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Elaine; son-in-law, George Witte; 14 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; a special friend, Isabelle McCandless and many other friends. A memorial has been established to Merna United Methodist Church in her name.