Jerry L. Stevenson

Trenton native Jerry L. Stevenson, 71, passed away at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at North Kansas City Hospital after a lengthy illness.

He was the son of Garland and Frances (Dougherty) Stevenson, born on July 10, 1940. Mr. Stevenson attended Norton Elementary School, Trenton Junior High and High School.
At age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served six months. In 1959, he and his brother Rex joined the U.S. Navy on the brother program.
In 1960, at age 19, he married Helen Bush of Trenton. He and his wife had three children during his Navy career.
While in the Navy, he learned to cook, a skill that would follow him during his entire civilian career. He served aboard numerous submarines (including a trip to the Arctic Circle).
He was also a Navy recruiter for six years and was named “Recruiter of the Year” every year of that duty.
Mr. Stevenson was a distinguished Vietnam veteran. He retired from military service after 22 years with a rank of senior chief.
During his civilian career, he served as food service coordinator for the Minnesota Twins and Cameron, Maryville and St. Joseph prisons. He also worked at Premium Standard Farms and managed the Riverside Country Club kitchen.
In 1986, he and his wife purchased Trenton’s Maid-Rite Cafe and operated it until 1997.
Mr. Stevenson was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, of the home and three children: Jeff Stevenson and his wife, Julie of Webb City, Jamie Wendt and her husband, Tom of Trenton and Gregory Stevenson of Chillicothe; two brothers, Lester and Rex and one sister Darlene Dugger.
He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Wilma Bush and brothers-in-law, Jim Bush and his wife, Maggie and Ty Bush. Sisters-in-law include Trudie Wilcox and her husband, Gerald, Viola Winters, Joyce Hayes, Charlene Guilette and her husband, Steve and Claudia Bush.
He had six grandchildren, Billy Barlow and his wife Whitney, Jerry Wayne Barlow and his wife Jenny, Ashley Bundridge and her husband Ricky and John, Matthew and Nathan Stevenson; nine great-grandchildren, seven step-grandchildren; and 14 step-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011 at Slaters Funeral Home in Trenton.
Services will he held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011 at Tenth Street Baptist Church in Trenton. Rev. Jesse Cass will officiate. Burial will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Trenton.
Donations are suggested to the Salvation Army or Backpack Buddies, a program at the Trenton Food Pantry that was important to Stevenson. Donations may be left at Slater Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be left at slatersfuneralhome.com