Betty Lynn Gist Stephens

Mrs. Betty Lynn Gist Stephens, 82, of St. James, Mo., formerly of Cardwell, Mo., and Cuba, Mo., died Monday, July 18, 2011, at the Hospice Care Center of Cox South Hospital in Springfield. Born Oct. 15, 1928, in Cardwell, she was the daughter of the late Joseph A. and Nioba Yancey Gist. She was a homemaker, an avid reader, enjoyed needlework, and was a member of the Delhi Baptist Church in Cuba.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas E. Stephens; and three brothers, Donald Gist, Joseph M. Gist and Larry Gist.

Mrs. Gist leaves two sons, Thomas Stephens and his wife, Sora, of O'Fallon, Mo., and Douglas Stephens and his wife Cherryl of St. James;

Three daughters, Cheryl Broderick and her husband, Dennis, of Desoto, Mo.,, Karen Boudouris and her husband Larry, of Greenville, Mo.,, and Cathy Banks and her husband Phillip of Kimberling City, Mo.;

One brother, Charles Gist and his wife Nellie of Paragould;

One sister, Marjorie Black of Peoria, Ill.; and

Fourteen grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. today at the Howard Funeral Chapel in Leachville. Funeral services, officiated by the Rev. Royce Boling, will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at the Howard Funeral Chapel in Leachville. Burial will follow in the Cardwell Cemetery.

The family has requested that any memorials be made to Delhi Baptist Church, 3170 Hwy UU, Cuba, Missouri, 65453.

To sign the online guest register, log on to www.howardfuneralservice.com