Roger Stevens

Roger Donovane Stevens, son of Vane Wesley Stevens and Vida May Rodgers, passed away November 25, 2020, on the family ranch. Born on a Bandera County ranch on February 11, 1929, he was was the middle son of 4. Roger lived the majority of his 91 years of life in Bandera County. \r\n\r\nPreceded in death by his parents, 1st wife Barbara, son Michael Donovane, brother Ray Stevens, sister Wanda Fiztpatrick, and nephew "Wesley" Ray Stevens, Jr., Roger is survived by-2nd wife Jean Heep, stepson David Heep, sister Wilma Black, sister-in-law Lola Post, nieces - Sandy Watkins, Lynn Hicks, Jackie Armstrong and Jan Stearns and nephews - Tim Custer, Scott Post, Jamie Hansen and Dustin Fitzpatrick. Roger also leaves behind many great nieces, nephews, and step grandchildren. \r\n\r\nRoger grew up a rancher's life, the essentials of working hard and a strong reliance on the importance of family, shaped his life. Music was an important part of family life. In his youth, Roger did jobs like delivering circulars for a local store and riding bulls at the local Saturday night rodeo to earn extra money for the family. During high school, where Roger was a football lineman, he developed strong friendships.\r\n\r\nService was important so Roger joined the United States Marine Corps on August 5, 1948 after graduating from high school. Before detaching from the Marines as a Staff Sgt on August 1, 1952, he married his first wife, Barbara Rees, on November 12, 1949. They had one son, Michael Donovane, born January 6, 1961.\r\n\r\nRoger and Barbara returned to Bandera and started Roger D Stevens Construction company in 1955, a business that continued for 44 years. Many tons of concrete, asphalt, and dirt were utilized for family homes, roads, bridges, lakes and ponds of the hill country; today, we still drive on many of the roads and high water bridges Roger's company built. \r\n\r\nRoger also served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Bandera (where he rose to President), the Wells Fargo bank of Bandera, the Mansfield Park Development Board and the local Optimist Club. He played a significant role in the construction of the Bandera County Recreation Center - a facility we still enjoy today. Community support continued with donated hunts on Roger's ranch to help raise funds for many of the community fundraisers. He volunteered his time to the Optimist Club of Bandera. Roger's community service and contribution were significant.\r\n\r\nRoger's passion for the Bandera County youth was evident in his service as the President of the Bandera School Board from 1976-1985, where he was instrumental in the development of the plans for the current High School. He also invested in Bandera County youth as a buyer at the Bandera County Jr. Livestock Show.\r\n\r\nThe Steven's family ranch in Bandera hosted many dinners, hunting and fishing events and family gatherings. Cattle, sheep, goats, and trophy deer were raised at the ranch. Roger remarried on February 8, 2007 to Jean Heep and they continued developing the ranch by adding chickens and exotic animals to the ranch while at the same time continuing to share the ranch with family. There is always love and laughter to be had at the ranch.\r\n\r\nRoger's significant contributions to his community and his love of family will be greatly missed.\r\n\r\nVisitation will be held at 1 PM with services following at 2 PM on Monday, November 30, 2020 at Grimes Funeral Chapels in Bandera. Graveside services with military honors will follow in the Bandera Cemetery. \r\n