Marva J. Stephens, age 84, of Kansas City, Missouri passed away on Monday,

December 23, 2024, at St. Luke's – Plaza, Kansas City, Missouri.

Marva was born September 14, 1940, in Callaway County, Missouri to Thomas Burch

Brown, Sr. and Marceline Warren Brown and grew up in Auxvasse, Missouri. She was

baptized at a young age and was a member of New Richland Baptist Church in Fulton,

Missouri.

Marva graduated from Lincoln University Laboratory High School in Jefferson City,

Missouri in 1957 and continued her education for one year at the University. In 1960

she completed the clinical portion of her nursing education at the University of Missouri

Medical Center and began her nursing career there the same year. After moving to

Kansas City in 1968, Marva continued her career at Menorah Medical Center, Trinity-

Lutheran Hospital, and Goppert-Trinity Family Care. She retired in 2018 after a 58 year

nursing career and maintained lifelong friendships with her nursing friends and

Barracuda swim team.

Marva married Jim Stephens on July 21, 1968, who preceded her in death August 29,

2024. Also preceding her passing are her parents; sisters, Bonetta Kay Brown and

Delores McGee; niece Krechenna Kendrick; great-nephew Kemmett Kendrick, Jr.; and

brothers-in-law Johnny Lee Stephens, Delanie Stephens and David Earl Stephens.

Marva is survived by son Bryan (Jean) Stephens, Kansas City, Missouri and daughter

Dawana Stephens, Kansas City, Missouri. Other survivors include sisters Bessie

Henson, Columbia, Missouri and Cynthia Garner, Overland Park, Kansas; brothers

Thomas Brown, Jr (Cecelia), Kansas City, Missouri, Charles Brown (Renita), Kansas

City, Missouri, and Forrest Brown (Wanda), Lenexa, Kansas; sisters-in-law Mary

Stephens, Katie Cooper, Evonne Stephens, and Malissa Stephens, and brother-in-law

Ricky Stephens; many nieces, nephews and close friends.