Home > United States of America > Washington > Okanogan County > Brewster > Locust Grove Cemetery > Francis Eugene “Jack” Stevens

Francis Eugene “Jack” Stevens

View larger map

1 / 4

2 / 4

3 / 4

4 / 4

❮ ❯

Francis Eugene “Jack” Stevens

Birth	:	19 Jan 1907 Brewster, Okanogan County, Washington, USA
Death	:	14 Apr 1986 Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington, USA
Burial	:	Locust Grove Cemetery, Brewster, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate	:	48.1114006, -119.7746964
Description	:	Cpl, Army Air Corps, WWII, Africe and India. During World War II, he was a Corporal in the Army Air Force 8th Repair SP (8th ADG), serving in Africa and India. His term of service was from 9 Apr 1942 to 27 Sep 1945. He was a heavy equipment operator driving dozers, graders, and dump trucks on airfields. He was sent to Africa on 14 Nov 1942 and returned to the United States on 26 May 1945. He served nine months and 13 days in the US, two years, 8 months and 6 days overseas. His... Read More	Cpl, Army Air Corps, WWII, Africe and India. During World War II, he was a Corporal in the Army Air Force 8th Repair SP (8th ADG), serving in Africa and India. His term of service was from 9 Apr 1942 to 27 Sep 1945. He was a heavy equipment operator driving dozers, graders, and dump trucks on airfields. He was sent to Africa on 14 Nov 1942 and returned to the United States on 26 May 1945. He served nine months and 13 days in the US, two years, 8 months and 6 days overseas. His service number was 39-173-160. The following appeared in the Wenatchee World newspaper in 1981: The writer was Jeanette Marantos: THE CEMETERY IS BREWSTER MAN'S DOMAIN Brewster --at 74, Jack Stevens is tough as tombstones and just as sturdy. Years ago, he helped transform the Brewster Cemetery from brittle weeds to a cool oasis and now in his retirement, he is making sure it stays that way. "This used to be nothing but sagebrush, rattlesnakes and dead people," he says, pushing his cap a little higher on his head. "Now people come up here and have picnics." The cemetery is his domain, and he controls every inch of it, from the mowing and clipping to the placements of headstones. "I have 14 relatives buried over there, and 11 of those are blood," he says, pointing to the southeast corner of the graveyard. "I know pretty well all of the people here, except the young ones." Officially, Stevens is an employee of the town of Brewster, paid a small salary for being the cemetery's caretaker. But he puts in lot more than eight hours a day. In fact, from early spring to late fall, Stevens lives at the cemetery, keeping house in a little trailer with Baby, a cocky white poodle who loves hard candy. His devotion to his work earned him the Brewster Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award in June, but his face reddens when he talks about it and his sputters a lot, in a vain attempt to hide his pleasure. "Forty years ago, if you'd asked me to take care of a cemetery like this, I probably would have hit you," he says gruffly, walking past rows of manicured headstones. "I was in construction then, cat driving and truck driving." Stevens grew up in Brewster, and except of a short stint in the Army, has always lived within an hour's drive of his hometown. Even now, when he isn't at the cemetery, he spends his time in Squilchuck where his wife Delorous watches over their home. "I always came back to Brewster for some reason or another," he says, squinting in the direction of the town. "Why?" he snorts, "You answer that question, I can't." When he left construction work, he became a maintenance worker for the town of Brewster. And in that position about 20 years ago he worked on a town crew that upgraded the town's cemetery, leveling the rocky ground, installing sprinklers and planting the greenery that made it beautiful. "Bob Jerome, he was one of the foreman. He's dead now, over there," Stevens says, pointing in the direction of his grave. "Ahhh, I don't even like to think about old times like that. It makes me feel like I'm old." About 12 years ago, he decided to retire, but in just a few months, "I though I'd go nuts" So, when the town offered the caretaker job, he snapped it up. "I got five buddies here who quit, and they have to stay." He stretches and grins. "The worst thing people can do in retirement is to go and quit. Even though he wouldn't have taken the job in his younger years, he thinks it's proper enough now because a younger person couldn't do the job justice. "Young people wouldn't stay put, they wouldn't take the interest. "I'd recommend a middle-age man or older. What the heck, I'm not going to last forever, but as long as I can I"i"will stay here. "Course," he grins, "I don't move as fast as I used to." He moves fast enough, though, mowing the lawn -- "It takes two days to mow, you know" and moving sprinklers, pulling weeds, pulling weeds, clipping the grass around graves and setting heavy headstones into the ground. "It's getting to where I'm going to tell them "no vacancies," he grumbles. "I'll get my lawn all nice and here comes that old city crew to cut more holes. And after a holiday or something, I've got to pick up all the flowers 'cause I go right over the top of the graves with my mower." He stops then and grins, "But I'm crabby anyway." Despite his complaints, Stevens does a poor job of hiding his satisfaction. "Oh," he allows, "we have it kind of nice here, Baby and me. The tenants leave us alone. They don't ever come around asking to borrow some salt." Living in a cemetery doesn't bother him. "Spooks? Nah." He chuckles at the idea. "These people aren't going to hurt you. It's the ones over the walls that are going to hurt you." Loneliness isn't a problem either, with Baby there and Delorous coming up most weekends. "She doesn't like camping anyway," he says. And he can always jump in the truck and head for town to stock up on sweet rolls and pop. When he goes to town, though, he always marvels at how things have changed. "When I was a kid, everybody had a barn and everybody had a milk cow. The cows would go down the street to the pasture and then at night we'd bring them home and put each cow in each barn. "Now, half the people down there wouldn't know what a milk cow is. Why, I don't even know half the people in the store anymore." On top of all his outdoor work, Stevens has his share of paperwork too, keeping track of who's buried where and what spaces are still available for people who want to plan ahead and buy a plot in advance. That's fine for other folks, Stevens says. But not for him. "No, I haven't bought a plot. I'm going to be cremated." He said firmly. "Times are coming when there won't be any burials because there won't be any room. It'll be a national law." But he doesn't dwell on his own mortality. There's not much point, he figures. "Sometimes I'll be out there working, and I'll think to myself, 'your gonna be next, And then I say, huh! Where did that come from? C'mon dog, let's get out of here and go to town.'" JACK STEVENS HONORED AS BREWSTER CITIZEN OF THE YEAR Above is the Brewster, Washington June 11, 1981 Brewster Hearld Newspaper headline "It is my sincere honor to name Jack Stevens Citizen of the Year," exclaimed Mayor Howard Gamble to the crowd rising to their feet and applauding vigorously as Mr. Stevens shyly wound his way through the crowd to the front of the room, where he would receive the coveted annual Brewster Chamber of Commerce Award. The honor is bestowed on a Brewster citizen who has served the community over the years without asking for or having received any recognition for his/her services. The award ceremony took place Saturday evening, June 6 at the American Legion Hall in Brewster. Mayor Gamble prefaced his presentation by saying, "Jack's recognition is long overdue as he has been serving this community faithfully for about twenty-one years and has been less visible than those of us who are in the public eye." He continued in his obviously sincere praise by commending Jack for always taking pride in his work, especially that of Brewster Cemetery caretaker. "Jack turned that place from a desert filled with bramble bushes into something of beauty because of his dedication." Gamble said. Jack listened, somewhat stunned, as Dr. Harold Lamberton joined the two men and commended Jack for his conscientious work throughout the past years. He also chose to tease Jack a little bit about having a crush on Jack's sister as a child, "but she didn't know I was around," he chided. Vernon (Sonny) Holt also came forward and remembered having known Jack since he was a small child. He also said when he was once a councilman, "I'd head for the cemetery when the pressure got too bad and talk to Jack while I enjoyed the beauty and peaceful environment he created up there." He is dedicated, quiet and caring," Holt concluded. Jack was given a beautiful wood plaque with a scroll engraved with his name and the year he was honored, on it. He was also given a beautiful centerpiece for his wife Delorous. He recalled, "I remember spanking Sonny and Howard when they were little and I drove a logging truck, 'cause they'd sometimes get in the way," Jack remarked. The nearly seventy-five year old Jack, who worked for the city over twenty-one years, was born in Brewster, "Right behind where the fire hall now stands," he said. "It all happened so fast, it was wonderful, I already hung up the plaque and the flowers were so beautiful," said Jack, who continued, "If I'd have known, I'd never been there, I was tricked into it." "My foster son, Dale, told me had had to meed a friend at the Legion and we should all go along." He added. Jack was also given cards sent him by well-wishers and a guest book that recorded the names of all those present for the special occasion. His ashes are scattered near the Brewster, Washington city cemetery where he was caretaker for many years. Compiled by J. D. Stevens, Springfield, Virginia

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Francis Eugene “Jack” Stevens's memorial?
Francis Eugene “Jack” Stevens's memorial is located at: Locust Grove Cemetery, Brewster, Okanogan County, USA.
When did Francis Eugene “Jack” Stevens death?
Francis Eugene “Jack” Stevens death on 14 Apr 1986 in Wenatchee, Chelan County, Washington, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Francis Eugene “Jack” Stevens's memorial?
Latitude: 48.1114006
Longitude: -119.7746964

Family Members:

Parent

Rufus Miller Stevens

(1862 - 1950)

Spouse

Nettie Lavada Taber Hess

(1902 - 1996)

Pauline Fredricka Swanson Stevens

(1903 - 1963)

Siblings

Children

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Locust Grove Cemetery
Brewster, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1114006, -119.7746964

2. Elizabeth Osborn Mikel Gravesite
Brewster, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1498900, -119.7514700

3. Paradise Hill Cemetery
Brewster, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1848980, -119.8411900

4. Fort Okanogan Memorial Cemetery
Okanogan, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1594009, -119.6632996

5. Packwood Memorial Cemetery
Dyer, Douglas County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0118305, -119.8178880

6. Pateros Cemetery
Pateros, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0516600, -119.9097300

7. Dick Family Cemetery
Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0502700, -119.9241700

8. Miller Family Cemetery
Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0530300, -119.9288000

9. Bridgeport Cemetery
Bridgeport, Douglas County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0050000, -119.6738800

10. Chiliwist Cemetery
Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2630997, -119.7363968

11. Methow Cemetery
Methow, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1102982, -120.0124969

12. Malott Community Cemetery
Malott, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2925000, -119.7047300

13. Cameron Lake Pioneer Memorial Cemetery
Malott, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2708330, -119.5700000

14. Buckingham Cemetery
Douglas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8669014, -119.6286011

15. Okanogan City Cemetery
Okanogan, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3546982, -119.6061020

16. Beaver Creek Cemetery
Twisp, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3272000, -120.0564000

17. Spring Coulee Family Cemetery
Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3895950, -119.6289460

18. Chelan Fraternal Cemetery
Chelan, Chelan County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8502998, -120.0081024

19. Mount Olivet Cemetery
Chelan, Chelan County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8451000, -119.9946000

20. Okanogan Valley Memorial Gardens
Omak, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3911018, -119.5691986

21. Omak Memorial Cemetery
Okanogan, Okanogan County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3874000, -119.5565800

22. Mansfield Cemetery
Mansfield, Douglas County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8088880, -119.6508330

23. Riverview Cemetery
Chelan, Chelan County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8335991, -119.9944000

24. Saint Andrews Episcopal Church
Chelan, Chelan County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8397460, -120.0183780