Debbie Lee Stephens

August 21, 1945 - July 8, 2020

Debbie Lee (Spiess) Stephens, 74, passed away in her home of Kansas City, Kansas on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. She was born August 21, 1945, the only daughter of Leonard Eugene and Lillian Mae (DeMarais) Spiess, and eldest of their five children, which included brothers Albert Eugene, Martin Leon, Kenneth Dale, and Christopher Robin. Debbie graduated from Turner High School in 1963 and remained a proud Golden Bear throughout her life. She took joy in attending her class reunions, most recently celebrating 55 years with fellow THS alumni. She and her husband, Clifford, were married a total of 30 years, until his death in 2014. A passionate woman of many talents, Debbie knew her way around a rod and reel, competed in bowling leagues, taught scrap-booking classes, enjoyed poker games with her brothers, crocheted gifts for her loved ones, and made a world class potato salad. Her retirement years were spent caring for her great-grandchildren and she was always eager to sew a hem or share a recipe with those who called her Mom, Memom, Sis, or Aunt Debbie. Although her husband’s naval career led her to make a home in various parts of the country throughout her life, Debbie was always a Kansas City girl at heart, and took pride in cheering her beloved Chiefs to a recent Super Bowl victory. She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Lillian Spiess; husband Robert J. Bradshaw, until his death in 1973; husband Clifford W. Stephens; step-daughter Alison Porter; and brother Martin L. Spiess. Debbie is survived by her daughters, Shari Baptist, Patricia Bradshaw, and Samantha Bradshaw (and Jeffrey Hollinshed); her brothers Gene (and Vicki) Spiess, Kenny Spiess, and Chris (and Amber) Spiess, and sister-in-law, Amanda Spiess; step-children Susan Guthrie, Thomas Stephens, and Mark Stephens; grandchildren Kayla (and Benjamin), Abby (and Phillip), Macenzie (and Ashley), Lucas (and Jami), DeMarais (and Tim), Jessie, and Sayde (and Brian); and great-grandchildren Hayden, Pilar, Emery, Vanessa, Macenzie Jr.,Violet, Alayna, Naomi, Prince, Roman, Kai, Olivia, and soon-to-be-born Paislee; and many cherished nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews in Debbie’s extended, but close-knit family.