Michael Don Stephens, Founder of Southern Machine and Fabrication

The following obituary was submitted by Owen Funeral Home:

Michael Don Stephens is beloved and better remembered by many as Mike, Dad, and Papa. He was born in Pensacola, Florida, on December 28, 1945, to Yvonne and Jack Stephens and was the oldest sibling to his two sisters, Kay and Julie, and his brother, John.

He graduated as a mechanical engineer from the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Mike, a well-respected business owner, founded Southern Machine and Fabrication of Cartersville in 1977. However, he would always share that his greatest accomplishment in life were his three children and his eleven grandchildren, who all adored him and brought him so much joy.

He joined his Father in heaven on September 26, 2014 while on vacation in Pensacola, his favorite place in the world. He is lovingly survived by his mother and siblings, his wife, Sherry Stephens, his three children, Allison Stephens Nelson, Michael Stephens Jr. and Matthew Stephens and their mother, Susan Spradley Stephens, and his step-daughter, Heather White.

Mike’s services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, October 3, 2014, at the St. Francis Catholic Church with Monsignor Dan Stack and Father Juan Azora officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to St. Francis of Assisi Church in Cartersville, Ga.
The family received friends at Owen Funeral Home on Thursday. Go Gators! We will all miss you so much, Papa.

(Photo credit: Patch file)