Kenneth Byron Stevens

Kenneth Byron Stevens was born on May 19,1922, in Myrtle Point, Oregon to his parents Victor Stevens and Gladys (Neibling) Stevens. He passed away in his home in Powers, Oregon, at the age of 102 on March 20, 2025.

Ken grew up the oldest of three children, sister Dorothy and brother Dean, on a dairy farm in the Myrtle Point area. He worked in various local industries including dairy farming and commercial fishing, during the Great Depression, making out a challenging existence during difficult times. He graduated from Myrtle Point High School and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1941. On December 7th that same year, Ken was stationed in Pearl Harbor when it suffered the infamous attack from Japan that launched the US into World War II. He continued to serve in the Navy in the South Pacific for five more years after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Ken married Phyllis Pullen of Bandon on June 5, 1949. They started their married life in Bandon. Like many logging families at the time, they spent summertime living in various logging camps in the area. Ken was a partner in a new logging company called BPS Logging – the ‘S’ representing Stevens.

They moved to Powers in December of 1962 with two daughters, Kayleen and Kathy, where they remained for the rest of their lives. They had a son, Sam, and pastored the Powers Church of God, where Ken served as a pastor for 35 years.

In addition to managing the logging company and pastoring the church, Ken was also a recreational pilot who enjoyed flying his plane. He developed a fondness for fishing remote lakes in British Columbia, hunting and camping in the Steens Mountains and traveling with his camp trailer to Death Valley, all of which he did with his wife Phyllis and various assortments of kids and grandkids throughout the years. Their love of traveling also took them to such locations as New Zealand, Alaska, Fiji and Washington DC, to name a few.

Ken and Phyllis also became avid runners together, participating in many local events such as the Pear Blossom and Prefontaine Memorial.  They also ran the Honolulu Marathon a few times as they returned regularly to Hawaii as active members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association.

Ken and Phyllis pastored the Church of God until 1997 and were an integral and valued part of the Powers community, conducting numerous weddings and funeral services over the years in addition to the regular church services. Their three children graduated from Powers High School as did all of their subsequent grandchildren, as Kayleen, Kathy and Sam all elected to raise their families in Powers as well. Ken and Phyllis were married for 70 years until her death in August of 2019.

Ken is survived by his three children, Ron and Kayleen Hofsess, Mark and Kathy Rector and Sam and Chris Stevens; nine grandchildren, Matt and Heather Shorb, Ryan Hofsess, Joey Shorb, Josh and Katie Apsley, Gabe and JoAnne Shorb, Tate and Beth Mason, Luke and Leah Rector, Josh and Melanie Stevens and Jake Stevens; nine great-grandchildren, Hannah Shorb, Charles Shorb, Karena Stephens, Olivia Shorb, Nora Rector, Maybelle Mason, Paige Stevens, Kenneth Shorb, Tyler Mason, Dean Stevens and Madison Stevens; and one great-great-grandchild, Bennett McNeely.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that tax deductible donations be made to the Powers Church of God steeple and roof repair fund. Donations can be mailed to Powers Church of God, P.O. Box 219, Powers, OR 97466.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00AM, Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Powers Church of God, 410 W. Cedar St.  Vault Interment with Military Honors will follow at the Powers Cemetery.

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