Neva Dean Stephens completed her 92 year journey of this life and changed her address to Heaven's Avenue on January 10, 2026.

Dean married Homer Stephens on September 14, 1949. She milked a lot of cows, mostly by hand, worked many years in the Crane Garment Factory, then actually drove the truck with her husband, Homer, for a few years. Later she worked in a motel, then ended her claim to fame as the "Candy Making Queen." She made candy in Rocky Johnson's candy shop for over 20 years. He then transported the candy to Silver Dollar City where it was sold in the General Store. She was very popular with family, friends and church get-together's keeping them stocked with lots of the best chocolate candy you ever tasted.

Something Dean longed to do was to obtain a GED which she proudly did in1988. She had attended both Ponce Pentecostal and Horsecreek Church. In their retirement Dean and Homer traveled a lot and loved attending Bluegrass Festivals.

Dean was born June 30, 1933, and was preceded in death by her husband, Homer; a son, Adrian Gene; her parents, Willie and Janie Tennison and ten brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her son, Allen and wife, Sharon of Galena; daughter, Neva Carol Blakey of Springfield; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren; three great, great grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Stumpff Funeral Chapel, Crane, MO. Funeral services will be Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in Ponce Pentecostal Church, Ponce MO with Gayle Cobb officiating. Burial will be in Eisenhour Cemetery, Spokane, MO under the direction of Stumpff Funeral Home, Crane, MO.