Helen Maxine Stephens, age 92, of Russellville passed away peacefully on Monday evening, December 19, 2022, surrounded by her beloved family.

Helen, a native of Pope County, was born December 6, 1930, to Welzie and Beulah Karnes. Raised in Dover, she graduated from Russellville High School in 1948 and went on to attend both Arkansas Tech and Harding University. While at Harding she met Bill Stephens, whom she would soon marry. Together, they had one son, Marc.

Returning to Russellville in the mid-1970's after living the "good life" in California and Arizona for nearly 20 years, Helen found employment at Contel Phone Company near downtown, from which she retired in the mid-1990's.  A longtime member of the Westside Church of Christ, she was active in various ministries and immensely enjoyed Bible study and lunching with the ladies after Sunday services. Over the years, Helen pursued a variety of recreational activities, including camping, motorcycle riding, golfing, music festivals in Mountain View and walking the local Bona Dea trails. In later years, she delighted in visiting the family farm whenever new calves arrived. Above all else, she enjoyed spending time with her son and grandchildren the most.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands Bill, Armil and Lonzo; her sister, Bettie Karnes Walker; and great-grandson, Dylan Matthew Turner.

Helen will be dearly missed by her son, Marc, and daughter-in-law, Sarah Stephens; her grandchildren, Stacey and Matt Turner of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Jennifer and Matt McLellan of Fort Worth, Texas, Luke and Emily Stephens of Dallas, Texas and Kaitlyn and Jared Bandel of Golden, Colorado; her ten great-grandchildren; a nephew and his wife, David and Theresa Walker of Lebanon, Missouri; and her beloved Jack Russell Terrier, Darby.

The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 29, 2022, at the Shinn Chapel with Mr. Tim Tripp officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Memorial Park and under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service of Russellville.

The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m., until service time in the chapel.

Memorials may be made to West Side Church of Christ, 2300 West C Street, Russellville, Arkansas 72801.

Online guestbook and condolences available at www.shinnfuneral.com.