Jo Stevens

Wilma Julaine "Jo" Stevens was born on October 17, 1932, in McDonough County, Illinois, to Stella Ines and Floyd Bertran Stevens. She moved with her family several times before graduating from East Peoria High School in 1950. She was a published author by age 16. She graduated from Brown's Business College of Commerce (now Midstate College of Commerce) and worked as an executive secretary at Caterpillar Research and Development. She attended engineering classes at Bradley University and passed the Caterpillar engineering entrance exam. She quit after she was denied an engineering position because of her gender. She then worked as an executive secretary for O'Hern and Wombacher. At Fernwood Roller Skating Rink's 1956 New Year's Eve Party a gentleman introduced himself with the same last name as hers. Jo was sure someone was playing a joke. She married Donald Ray Stevens 17 months later on September 8, 1958. Jo resided with Don on his farm between Trivoli and Farmington for nearly 25 years and as a widow for nearly 30 more. Jo cared almost daily for her in-laws or mother from the mid-1960s to 2006 upon the passing of her mother at age 99. Jo drove a school bus route for the Farmington School District in the 1970's and also enjoyed transporting the academic and athletic teams to various venues. She is survived by her two sisters, Marjorie Ellen (Stevens) Lacey of El Mirage, AZ and Ethel May (Stevens) Sewell of Peoria; one brother-in-law Robert Donald Lacey; nephews and one niece, Steven Sewell, Larry Lacey, David Sewell, and Linda (Sewell) Wilson; one son, Ray Todd Stevens of Bedford, IN; one daughter, Donna Julaine Stevens of Vallejo, CA; one son-in-law, Clifford Reed Brumels; and two grandchildren, Rachel Julaine Brumels and Aaron Reed Brumels. Jo passed on after a brief struggle with cancer on September 12, 2012. She will be remembered as a woman ahead of her time who knocked on the engineering door for those who followed to open it, including her daughter. She was a steward of the earth as a farm manager and practiced "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" decades before conservation became popular. Although Jo will be dearly missed, we believe she completed her mission and God has called her home. Cremation rites have been accorded with a memorial visitation on Monday Sept 17th at Brunswick Community Church 4027 S. Stone School Road in rural Trivoli from 6pm until 8pm. A memorial service will be then be held 10am on Tuesday Sept 18th also at the church. Burial of her remains will immediately follow her service in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Farmington.