Doris Jean Youtsey Stevenson was born on October 24, 1933, the 2nd of five children (Lloyd, Doris, Leo, Ann, and Raymond), to Lloyd and Ethel Mae (Hodson) Youtsey in Terlton, OK. Doris departed this life on April 11, 2025, at the age of 91yrs, 5 months, and 20 days In Cushing, OK after a short battle with cancer, Doris was raised and educated along with her siblings in Terelton,OK. According to family, Doris began cooking at a very young age, while other members of the family were working in the fields and trying to get by during the Great Depression. Doris was so small that she had to stand on a chair to reach the stove top. During her time in school, she become a star forward on the Terlton High School girls’ basketball team. The team would travel to games on the train that ran between the small towns in which they played.
At the age of 16, Doris was united in marriage to Donald O’Dell Avers in Terlton, OK. To this union three children (Michael Don, Angela Dianne, and LaDonna Lynn) were born. The marriage ended, Doris and the children moved back to Terlton. She then met and married Boyd Manville (Steve) Stevenson on May 19, 1957 to this union were born two children (Kristi Kay and Stephanie Ann). She also became a stepmom to four sons (Sonny, Bobby, Jerry, and Jimmy) and two daughters (Opal “Snooks” and Donna Mae). Doris and Steve were married for 64yrs and 3months prior to Steve’s death.
Doris and Steve made their home in Wichita KS, later moving back to Oklahoma in the early 70’s. After the kids were raised, they built a home in Olive, OK. some years later deciding to move to Grand Lake. As they got older, they returned to the Terlton/ Mannford area. After Steve passed in 2021, Doris moved to Cushing OK where she lived until her passing. Doris loved to cook, spend time with family, and travel. You could always depend upon Sunday dinner at the Stevenson’s, if she knew you were coming, she would often fix your favorite meal or dessert. At Christmas time she would make and give out homemade jelly and candy as gifts. Of course, everyone had their favorites. In recent years, she did depend more and more upon help from her girls to get everything ready, but she would always be available to “boss” the job.
She loved all types of music, many summers weekends and vacations, prior to Steve retiring, were spent at Blue Grass festivals throughout OK. As for travel, she loved visiting Colorado and New Mexico, her two favorite vacation destinations, as well as Bandara Texas. Doris enjoyed going to Allen’s Park, CO to visit her friend Claudine. For years she kept Claudine supplied with Cain’s Coffee as you could only buy it in Oklahoma. Doris and Steve spent 25yrs traveling to Questa, NM to spend the month of July there, because”in July it was too hot to stay in Oklahoma”. Doris would read and spend time with Steve, family, and friends’ going out to eat, visiting garage sales “looking for a great cookbook”, and cleaning all the fish that Steve caught from the streams around Questa. As they got older, they lived on Grand Lake, and often traveled to Cotter AR so Steve could go trout fishing. She enjoyed the scenery and had lots of funny stories to tell about the adventures.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents, husband Steve, three brothers Lloyd Junior Youtsey, Leo “Speck” Youtsey, and Raymond “Rusty” Youtsey, one son Micheal Don Avers, one daughter Kristi Kay Kidd, one grandson Derek Lee Kidd, and three stepsons Jimmy Stevenson, Bobby Stevenson, and Jerry Stevenson along with other family members and friends. Doris is survived by one sister Dorathy Ann Percell, her beloved sister in law Linda Robertson, three daughters Angela Avers, La Donna Cullinan, her husband Jack, Stephanie Baker, her husband Curtis, one stepson Sonny Stevenson, his wife Gail, two stepdaughters Opal “Snooks” Baker and Donna Rupe, countless grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends, that were near and dear to her heart.
Graveside services were held at the Terlton Cemetary April 16th, 2025 under the direction of the Chathman Black Funeral Home of Cleveland, OK with Kirby Applegate officiating.
