Piner Stevens

Services will be at 2:00 P.M. on Friday, December 19, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. Donna Johnston and Rev. Rick Enns officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 18, 2014 at Brooks Chapel. Burial will be in Dreamland Cemetery. Piner Stevens, 100, of Canyon, slipped his earthly bonds and went to his eternal home on December 15, 2014. Frank Piner Stevens was born to Dudley David Stevens and Lessie Ann Loden in Miami, Texas on November 25, 1914. When he was 10 months old the family traveled by covered wagon to their homestead on the Pecos River between Santa Rosa and Fort Sumner, New Mexico, and returned to Miami by 1920, again by covered wagon. In 1934 the family moved to Canyon where Piner spent the rest of his life. In 1938 a fellow cowboy introduced him to a cousin and a match made in heaven resulted in his wedding on May 3, 1940 to his "darlin'" and "madam" Martha Demaris "Pat" Orr. Pat passed on April 29, 2012, just days short of their 72nd anniversary. Piner wore several hats throughout his life but was first and foremost a cattleman and horseman. He was also an Amarillo Army Air Field machine shop foreman, Pioneer Natural Gas booster station operator, Stevens Floral Company co-founder and florist, and accomplished stained glass artist. Piner cowboyed and broke horses for ranches such as the JA Ranch in the Palo Duro Canyon, the Medley-Williams Ranch near Magdalena NM, the Bell Ranch near Tucumcari NM and the Roach's outfit near Clarendon TX and near Wayside TX. He leased and ran cattle on some of the Harrell and Marshall ranches in Ceta Canyon, Sunday Canyon, and Timber Draw. He also leased the Hamilton/Nicklaus ranch, on the upper Palo Duro Creek just a few miles northeast of Canyon, for 60 years. He was a lifelong cattleman who took great pride in the cattle and horses that he raised and was a steward of the land and wildlife entrusted to his care. He found satisfaction in raising a colt and training him into a fine cowhorse. He might not be able to hear people talking to him in the same room, but he could hear a baby calf bawl for its momma a half-mile away. Piner was preceded in death by his wife; sister Muriel Harrison; brothers Chug, Herd and Roy Joe Stevens; son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Melba Stevens; grandson, Jamie Olin Brown and granddaughter, Mandy Kathryn Frazier. He is survived by his children Lynn Hotchkiss of Canyon, Demaris (Al) Tijerina of Happy, Norris (Donna) Stevens of Lubbock; grandchildren Lessie Jo (Phil) Lennon of Bloomington, Indiana, Shannon (Lisa) Wade of Spring, Texas, Zach (Pinar) Stevens of Landstuhl, Germany, Tanner (JoAnna) Stevens of Canyon, and Nathan Stevens of Lubbock; greatgrandchildren, Jhenefer, Jhony, Maia, and Mac Lennon, Patrick, Aislinn, and Grant Wade, and Lara Quinn and Elias Kaan Stevens; sister-in-law Wannie Stevens; nieces Shirley White, Barbara Wheat, Cherie Peterson, Donna White, and Eddie Orr; nephews David Stevens and wife Kathy, Rondell Orr, and George Warren "Bud" Orr; numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and special friends Mary Butler, Elsie Moore, and Carla (Moore) Adams. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff of Hospice Care of the Southwest and to caregiver Mattie Campbell for their compassion and dedication. Memorials may be sent to First United Methodist Church, 1818 4th Ave., Canyon, Texas 79015.