A memorial service for Marleta Faye (Hill) Stephens will be held Friday, May 31, 2024 at the Chisholm Heights Baptist Church in Mustang, Oklahoma at 10:30 a.m.

Marleta Faye (Hill) Stephens was born on September 18, 1934 and left this life for her forever home on May 16, 2024 at the age of 89. She was the seventh of nine children  born to W.J. and Jessie Mae (Pooler) Hill at their home in Ninnekah, Oklahoma.

She attended 1st – 8th grade at a little country school, Kechi, where she learned to love basketball and books. When the family moved to Chickasha, she attended school there. Since the girls didn’t play basketball in Chickasha, she found a way to transfer to Friend School. She was Basketball Queen and Valedictorian, graduating in 1952 with Herman Stephens whom she met there and married on June 26, 1952. They lived, worked, and raised their family in Chickasha.

Marleta worked as Secretary-Bookkeeper for several businesses before she joined Robert L. Anderson at the Jane Brooks School for the Deaf. When the school left the college campus and became a private school, she worked as Administrative Assistant there for 25 years.  She started her own business with her sister in 1975 – M-Vetas Christian Bookstore. M for Marleta and V for Vineta and “eta” for both, this is how they chose the name for their store.

During her 36 years in the book and gift business, she loved traveling to the Christian Booksellers Convention where she attended Workshops learning about design, merchandising, and various business procedures. She met many authors and musicians who autographed many books and CD’s for her. She loved providing her community with Inspirational books, music, Bibles, and resource materials. For over 10 years she provided a “Book Room” for sales at the Parkview Christian Church during their Annual Women’s Conference.

She sold her business and retired in 2011. During her business career, she was a member of the American Business Woman’s Association (ABWA) where she served in several offices, including President. She was awarded the Chickasha American Business Woman of the Year award in 1993 and flew to Las Vegas (yes, her first time on an airplane) to receive a certificate along with other state winners.

She was a member of the Christian Women’s Club, Beta Sigma Phi, and GZ Chapter of P.E.O. where she served in many leadership roles in all of them. She was a member and Sunday School teacher at College Heights Baptist Church, Chickasha for 64 years.

After Herman’s death in 2021, she moved to a cottage at Laurel Springs Retirement Community in Mustang, Oklahoma. She was a member of the Chisholm Heights Baptist Church and active in all Senior Adult activities and found a place to teach the Bible.

Marleta loved traveling and shopping and was blessed to experience both, many times. She and Herman, over several years, traveled to Europe, touring England, France, Italy, Ireland, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. This past year was the 30th year of a Mother-Daughter weekend of making memories with her daughters, a tradition she always looked forward to doing.

Preceding her in death were her mother and father, six brothers and five sister-in-laws, Lloyd and Virginia Hill, Dale and Eva Mae Hill, Ralph and Lois Hill, J.B and Eula Hill, Roy and Inez Hill and Troy Hill; two sisters and brother-in-law, Vineta Hill and Dorothy and Clyde Romines, and her husband, Herman Wright Stephens.

She is survived by four daughters and son-in-laws; Nancy and Paul Enright, Roxanne and Gary Null, Stacey and Stevan Bull, and Stephanie and Dan Popp; 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Janet Hill, many nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Cremation and service are under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.