Maria A. Stephens resided in Charleston, Arkansas, passed away Friday, March 26, 2010 at the Greenhurst Nursing Center in Charleston. She was born January 6, 1925 in Coro, Venezuela to the late Isac Gonzalez and Teadora (Garcia) Gonzalez. She was 85 years old.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hurschell Floyd "Big Steve" Stephens.

Maria along with her husband was the former owner of the Otasco Store in Charleston, was a housewife, a mother, a great cook, and was of the Catholic faith.

Rosary service will be 6:00 p.m. Monday, March 29th at the Brotherton Funeral Home Chapel in Charleston.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 30th at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Charleston, with Father Peter Sharum officiating. Graveside service will be 12:00 p.m. at the U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith, under the direction of the Brotherton Brothers Funeral Home in Charleston.

She is survived by three daughters, Gladys Stephens Geren & husband Danny of Barling, Mildred Stephens Lopez of Hot Springs, and Pat Stephens Hatfield of Greenwood; one son, Don Stephens & wife Mollie of Chino Hills, California; thirteen grandchildren, Steven Lockridge, Dana Brewton, Damon Brewton, Melanie Roam, Marli Horton, Dawn France, Darren Wilson, Shawn Shaffer, Kevin Wilson, Natalie Lopez, Ron Lopez Jr., Zachary Stephens, and Sara Stephens; sixteen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Buck France, Connor Lockridge, Kevin Roam, Ron Lopez, Darren Wilson, and Danny Geren.

Honorary Pallbearers will be B.J. Shaffer, Steven Lockridge, Zack Stephens, Evan Horton, Mark Horton, Eric Roam, Brandon France, Dana Brewton, Nicholas Brewton.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Charitable Christian Medical Clinic @ 133 Arbor Hot Springs, AR 71901 or to the Good Samaritan Clinic @ 615 North B St. Fort Smith, AR 72901.

To pay an online tribute, please visit www.brothertonbrothersfuneralhomes.com.