Andrew Taylor Stephenson, Jr., age 77, passed away on Thursday, September 3, 2015 in Floresville, Texas. Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday, September 6, 2015 at 3 pm at the Kinney County Civic Center in Brackettville, Texas with Rev. Jean Reardon and Rev. Cynthia Engstrom officiating. Burial will take place in the Kinney County Cemetery.
His legacy is a career in public school education that spanned 54 years in Texas and New Mexico. He retired from his most recent administrative position in 2014 after experiencing a number of health challenges. His lifetime of service to educating our nation’s children includes serving as a decade as a teacher and band director in Stanton, TX and Clayton, NM and 31 years as a Superintendent of Schools in Clayton, NM, Artesia, NM, and Brackettville, TX. He also worked for Texas Educational Service Center Region 20 in San Antonio for a decade training school boards and superintendents on law and finance.
Taylor enjoyed leading singing in church and playing his baritone in the community band. He was an avid fan of the San Antonio Spurs.
Taylor was born to Andrew and Dovie Mae Stephenson on December 27, 1937 in San Antonio, Tx. He graduated from South San Antonio High School in 1956 and Sul Ross State University in 1960. He and Phyllis married on December 27, 1966 in Clayton, NM. He is survived by his daughter Traci and husband Nathan Perry and their children Bradley and Jordan from Floresville, TX. He is also survived by his son Michael and his children Taylor, Julia, and William. Taylor is also survived by a brother Jack and Helen Stephenson; sisters Ellen Godfrey, Shirley Stephenson, Jane and Bob Young of Brackettville, TX.; and many nephews and nieces.
Taylor was preceded in death by his parents (Andrew and Dovie Mae), his wife (Phyllis), a sister (Mary), brother in law (Tom Godfrey) and a brother- and sister-in-law (George and Jane Cowart), and a brother-in-law (Billy Butt).
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church in Brackettville, TX.
