Reverend Frank Stever

Reverend Frank Stever, 96, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Monday, January 27, 2014 at the Golden Living Center in Odessa, MO. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, January 31, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church in Odessa, MO. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 30, 2014 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. Second St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524. Burial will be in the Odessa City Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund or the Charity of Donors Choice. Frank was born on May 3, 1917 in Webster County, MO, to Edward W. & Josie (Gower) Stever. On January 5, 1936, Frank and M. Etolia Hollis were united in marriage. She preceded him in death on July 15, 2005. At age twenty-five, Rev. Stever answered the call to preach and received his first appointment to pastoral ministry in the Methodist Church on October 1, 1942. During his forty-four years in ministry he served charges in Preston, Creighton, Lamar, Slater, Odessa, Webb City, Bolivar, Neosho and Harrisonville. Following retirement, he served as part-time pastor for Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church, rural Odessa. In 1944, Rev. Stever returned to school at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, MO where he completed three years of high school and two years of junior college. He received an A.B. degree from Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, MO and a M.A. degree from Scarritt Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee. Surviving are three sons, two daughters, and their spouses, James Stever and wife Alice of Sedalia, MO, Joseph Stever and wife Bonnie of Sorrento, Florida, Jesse Stever and wife Bonita of Odessa, MO, Mary Specker and husband Donald of Odessa, MO and Martha Dahlor and husband Bill of Odessa, MO; twenty one grandchildren, fifty one great grandchildren and ten great great grandchildren; a special companion, Alta Kite; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife and parents, Rev. Stever was preceded in death by, a son, John E. Stever; three grandsons, Allen Specker, Daniel Specker and John E. Stever II; two great grandsons, Harper Stever and Thomas Specker; twin great great granddaughters, Amelia and Gentry Michael; and eleven siblings.