Ava Ann Stephens, affectionately known as “Ann”, 86, former resident of Westlake, La., passed away on April 7, 2024 at Oak Tree Assisted Living in New Braunfels, Texas.

Ann was born on Feb. 7, 1938 in Converse, La. where she lived until she was 18 years old. She graduated from Pisgah High School and moved to Westlake, La. to begin her career in the lab at Firestone Tire and Rubber plant. Ann met her future husband, “Bubby” Stephens at Firestone. After their marriage and the birth of their son, James, she left her job at Firestone to stay home as a full-time homemaker until James completed high school. Ann began working part-time at Bradley’s Department Store in Westlake for several years.

Mrs. Stephens was an active member of Pisgah Baptist Church as a child and teenager and Westwood Baptist Church and Westlake First Baptist Church as an adult. Ann taught Sunday School to fifth graders for many years and was very active in a ladies Wednesday morning Bible study. Her devotion to her Savior never wavered her entire life and her prayer life was full of answered prayers including the salvation of her son and his entire family.

Ann was an avid gardener of both vegetables and flowers. She thoroughly enjoyed hand stitching and machine sewing and gave away most of her sewing projects to family and friends. Favorite pastimes were antique shopping, especially for depression glass, with her husband all over the country, bringing her grandchildren on annual vacations and canning fruits from her garden. She also loved to play dominoes with her grandchildren.

She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend and will be dearly missed.

Ann is survived by her only child, James Harvey Stephens, and wife, Ellen, of Canyon Lake, Texas; four grandchildren who were her absolute pride and joy, Billy Stephens (Courtney) of New Braunfels, Texas, Ethan Stephens (Jaclyn) of Fort Smith, Ark., Mary Ellen Stephens of Houston, Texas, Christine “Chrissy” Gray (Austin) of Lake Charles, La. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren, Cheyenne, Everly, Wilder, Dawson and London; her sister, Sybil McCrosky, of Canton, N.C.; and her brother, Glyn Davis, of Coushatta, La. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick (Bubby) Stephens; parents, Columbus and Monie Davis, and three infant siblings.

The family will welcome the public for visitation 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Hixson Funeral Home of Westlake. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. with Oliver McGuire as officiant. Interment will follow at Westlake Memorial Park Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be James, Billy, Ethan, Austin Gray, Bobby Mayo and Lee Temple. Honorary pallbearers are Ronnie Thomas and Frank Snyder.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneral homes.com.

Special thanks to Oak Tree Assisted Living, especially Eileen, Angie and Mary and Altus Hospice for their wonderful care of our beloved Mawmaw.