Joe Bob Stephens

Joe Bob Stephens, 74, of Sherman, TX, passed away on February 11th, 2026, in Dallas, TX.

Celebration of Life services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 28th, 2026, at Sunset Memorial with Pastor Landon Coleman of Immanuel Baptist Church officiating.

Joe was born on February 26, 1951, in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Robert and Doris Stephens. He graduated from Ozona High School in 1969 and married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Ellen Welch, later that year on November 21. Joe served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, Germany, and South Korea, before moving to Lafayette, Louisiana, where he served as a Louisiana State Trooper. The family later relocated to Odessa, TX, where Joe worked in various roles in the oil and natural gas industry until retiring in 2020. His beloved wife, Sandy, passed away in 2019, just shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.

A dedicated member of Immanuel Baptist Church, Joe served as a Deacon, the “Sound Guy” and unofficial Children’s Ministries mascot, and was instrumental in founding the Texas Baptist Men’s Disaster Relief Team. The team provided food to first responders in New York City following September 11th and in Sri Lanka following the tragic tsunami in 2004, among many other humanitarian missions.

Joe married Jan Stevenson on March 31, 2020, in Denison, Texas. He cherished the love and companionship they shared, and Jan brought joy and support to his life in their years together.

Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Sandy, and brother Perry Edward “Ned” Stephens.

Joe is survived by his wife, Jan; daughter Stephanie Stafford and son-in-law John, Christy Vega and son-in-law Leo; son Wesley and husband Daniel Smith; son Joshua; brother Dan Stephens; grandchildren Baileigh and Braiden Gillis, Brock and Sarah Stafford, Madison Vega, London Vega, Nate Stephens; great-granddaughter Charlcie Kate Gillis; and a wide circle of friends in Odessa and North Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Blood Cancer United or Texans On Mission. The Stephens family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses of the oncology team at Medical City Dallas.