Funeral services for former Manitou resident Francis "Neil" Stearns will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 23, 2019 in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home of Snyder Chapel.

Burial will be in the Fairlawn Cemetery, Snyder, Oklahoma.

The family will greet friends Friday evening, November 22, 2013 from 5pm until 7pm at the funeral home.

Neil Stearns, 92, of Southlake, Texas departed with the angels at 3:24 p.m. Thursday, November 14, 2019. He left this earth peacefully to join his beloved wife, Dorothea, who preceded him in death after 66 years of marriage.

Neil was born November 27, 1926 in Manitou, Oklahoma to Thelma and Ivan Stearns. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Laing High School in 1944 as valedictorian of his class. Shortly after graduation, he joined the Merchant Marines and later was drafted into the Army near the end of WWII. After returning home, he attended Oklahoma A&M College.

Neil married Dorothea Beason, of Snyder, on January 28, 1950 at the home of her parents. They started their lives together on a farm outside of Snyder, and then moved to Chickasha before settling in Hurst, Texas in 1962. By then, they had added two daughters—Cheri in 1952 and Laurie in 1955. Neil was a farmer, a sales representative for various companies and then owned his own sales business. He was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Throughout his life, Neil enjoyed driving large vehicles—from trucks and buses in the army to many motor homes on vacations to buses for Grapevine-Colleyville school district after retiring. He and Dorothea were loyal members of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Hurst. They were active with the youth fellowship, fundraising and many other church functions.

Two of Neil's greatest passions were traveling and being with family and friends. Together they traveled all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. He especially enjoyed traveling in their motor homes. Like his life itself, traveling was not always about the destination, but sharing the adventure along the way. He had many friends, but especially stayed in touch with life-long friends, spending time and travels with them and their families.

Neil leaves behind a daughter, Cheri Irwin and husband Bill of Hurst, Texas; daughter, Laurie Self and husband David of Murphy, Texas. He is also survived by grandchildren: Jennifer Self Duke, Courtney Irwin Winegar and husband Reed, and Corey and Ryan Self; great-grandchildren: Will Duke, Taylor Smith, Penelope and Phoebe Winegar; brother Charles Stearns and wife Lois; nephews Mark Stearns and wife Nancy, Chuck and Ed Stearns; and niece Christy Stearns Lee.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Ivan and Thelma Stearns; sister Joyeline Costen; brother Tommy Stearns; aunts Mildred Smith and Agnes Cooper; and uncles Oran Stearns, Carl and Thomas McGehee and Russell Stearns.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the Fairlawn Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 185, Snyder, OK 73566 or to St. Paul United Methodist Church, 852 W. Bedford Euless Rd., Hurst, Texas 76053.