Earlyne Stephens

Mrs. Earlyne Stephens, age 99, of Garland, Texas, graduated to Glory on Tuesday evening, October 24, 2017, at Mesquite Specialty Hospital in Mesquite.Mrs. Stephens was born Wednesday, October 23, 1918 in Italy, Texas. She was the daughter of the late Willis Athey and Coystal Mattie (Frasure) Hyles. Mrs. Stephens worked as the bursar of Hyles-Anderson College, Crown Point, Indiana, before her retirement at the age of 82.She was a Sunday School teacher and faithful member of First Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana.After retirement, she moved to Garland, Texas, and joined Open Door Baptist Church in Mesquite.There, she remained a faithful and loving member up to her death. She is survived by her twin daughters: Athie Lue Denny and Margaret Sue (Carlous) Taylor of Garland; seven grandchildren:Eddie Paul (Karen) Oats, Cynthia Gale (Don) Crutcher, Sandra Sue (Richard) Hirtle, William Criswell (Tracey) Oats, Stephen Ray Wyrick, Bryan Keith (Katie) Wyrick, Francis Augustus (Lisa) Spencer IV; three nieces:Becky Jan (Tim) Smith, Linda Lou Murphrey, Cindy Lynn Schaap; a nephew: David Jack (Brenda) Hyles; thirteen great-grandchildren; and twenty-nine great-great grandchildren. She was preceeded in death by two sisters:Arvie Lorraine Hyles and Hazel Marie Hyles; a brother: Dr. Jack Frasure Hyles; a sister-in-law:Beverly Joyce (Slaughter) Hyles; a granddaughter:Vickie Annette (Wyrick) Knowles; and two great-grandsons:Warren Ray Wyrick II and David Eugene Orner. Mrs. Stephens’ Homegoing Celebration will be Tuesday, October 31, at Open Door Baptist Church in Mesquite at 10:00 am.The service will be officiated by her Pastor, Dr. Robert A.Ross, Jr.Interment will be at New Hope Memorial Gardens in Sunnyvale, Texas, officiated by Rev. Eddie Paul Oats.Arrangements were under the direction of New Hope Funeral Home in Sunnyvale, Texas.