Joy Stephens
Lera Joy (Boone) Dortch Stephens passed away on July 11, 2025, at The Waters of Union City. She was 92 years old.
Services were held at White-Ranson Funeral Home on July 14, 2025. Visitation was from 11 a.m.-noon with a private graveside service in East View Cemetery following. Pallbearers were family and friends.
Joy was of Baptist faith. She and her first husband were in a quartet in their younger years and both loved hymns and singing. She was a hard worker most of her life before retirement. She attended the vocational school in Newbern to learn office management skills. She worked in that capacity until moving to Morristown. She then attended real estate school and became a very successful realtor until her retirement. Joy also was an avid crafter and seamstress. In her spare time, she could be found gardening, canning, cooking, dancing, camping and traveling. She also loved playing cards, games and working puzzles. If she wanted to learn something, she would read, study and make calls until she figured it out!
Joy was born on Jan. 31, 1933, in Weakley County to the late Herman and Claudine (Erwin) Boone, who precede her in death. Joy married Lois Wayne Dortch in 1949. He died in 1993. She also married John Hughey who preceded her in death. She then married Vaughn Stephens of Springville. She resided in Springville until Vaughn’s death on Jan. 12, 2025.
Joy was also preceded in death by her brothers, James Melvin Boone, John William (Bill) Boone, Wayne Harold Boone and Thomas W. Boone; her half-sister, Linda (Boone) Mize; and half-brother, Waymon Boone.
Joy is survived by her daughters and son-in-laws, Phyllis (Mike) Rauchle and Sherry (John D) Merritt; grandchildren, John A (Shannon) Merritt, Bill (Gina) Davis, Becky (Brent) Buchanan and Grant Rauchle; great-grandchildren, Jade (Chuck) Hammer, Easton (Alyssa) Davis, Jaxon Davis, Leah Merritt (Frank) Lanotte, Max (Raven) Merritt, Lucas Merritt, Emmy Merritt and Lydia Rauchle; great-great-grandchildren, Colby Hammer, Calleigh Hammer, Harrison Davis and Ellie Merritt; half-brothers, Daniel and David Boone; one stepdaughter, Jan (Dwayne) Mathis; and three stepsons, Mike Stephens, Scott (Pam) Stephens and Greg (Pam) Stephens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Community Bible Church at 1413 South Home St., Union City, TN 38261.
The Messenger 7.14.25