Earl Edward Stevens
Earl Edward Stevens, 84, of Onaway, died Friday, December 25, 2020 at McLaren Northern Michigan hospital in Petoskey. The son of George Sr. and Mabel (Merchant) Stevens, Earl was born in Tower December 3, 1936. He married Betty C. Walters at the old Kramer farm in Onaway December 12, 1958. They were blessed with 55 years of marriage at the time of Betty’s death in 2013.
Raised in Tower, Earl graduated from Onaway High School and went on to work as a crane operator for General Motors Co. in Flint for more than 30 years. With his heart always in northern Michigan, Earl and Betty moved back home to Onaway following his retirement May 4, 1988.
Earl loved the outdoors and was passionate about riding his motorcycle. Over the years he owned five Honda Gold Wings logging over 200,000 miles on each. A typical ride on a beautiful day was several hundred miles. Sometimes he would end up in Davison or Millington to visit the kids or in Flint to see his brother.
He rode his motorcycle to pick-up groceries, to fill gas cans, and to do all his errands. When Earl said he was taking a ride to Atlanta or Cheboygan it usually was about a 250-mile trip as he always took the long way! He sure loved to ride and loved his reliable Honda Gold Wings.
Besides riding his motorcycle, Earl enjoyed snowmobile rides through the Pigeon River Forest especially back in the day when riding cross country and off the trails was allowed. He enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, and loved to cut firewood even though he didn’t have a fireplace or woodstove. Hardworking and generous, he would give the firewood to others to help them out. A bit of a hobby farmer, Earl enjoyed working his fields and had an appreciation for tractors. He had a small tractor collection, including a 1940 John Deere L and Farmall tractors.
Young for his age, Earl was active and busy all the time. He always had something to do, somewhere to go, a field to plow, or a ride to take. He was honest and it was quite easy to know what he was thinking because he told it like it was. He was extremely close with his sons and talked with them every day. He loved his grandsons, adored his great-granddaughters, and visited with his sister and brothers often. A remarkable man with a big heart for his family, a youthful spirit, and a great love for the outdoors, Earl will truly be missed and fondly remem
Surviving Earl are his two sons, Ken (Brenda) Stevens of Millington and Craig (Suzanne) Stevens of Davison; grandsons, Brad (Elizabeth) Stevens and Kelly Stevens, both of Millington; and two great-granddaughters, Destiny and Christine. Earl also leaves his sister, Donna Camp of Tower; two brothers, Ron (Fran) Stevens of Flint and Archie (Cora) Stevens of Onaway; and many nieces and nephews.
Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; sister, Alice Camp; and brothers, Bob, John, Stanley and George Jr. “Sock.”
There will be no visitation or services at this time. A graveside service is planned for Saturday May 8, 2021 at Forest Lawn Cemetery with a Celebration of Lfe to follow at Tower Hall. Arrangements were in care of Chagnon Funeral Home.