John Thomas Stephens Jr.

John Thomas Stephens Jr. died peacefully in his home, at the age of 66, on Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026. He was born on December 26th, 1959, to John Stephens Sr. and Hazel Stephens, in Brownfield, Texas.

John never met a stranger, he could strike up a conversation with anyone ever he met. Everywhere he went it seemed like he always knew somebody, because he spoke to everyone with the same familiarity as the friends he’s known his whole life.

He was a kind man, who loved helping others.

This showed in many ways, one of those being when, soon after he graduated from Dunbar High School, John opened a public game room so that kids in the area would have somewhere safe to hang out and stay off the streets.

This was also the start of his entrepreneurial career. In the mid-1980s John went to Cleburne Texas, where he opened a martial arts dojo in the Cleburne Mall. Years later he moved to Mexia, Texas, where he opened a martial arts dojo and fitness gym, and later on expanded his business into Teague and Fairfield where he opened two more dojos.

Eventually, he was dubbed “The Karate man” by those who knew of the dojos.

John graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his Degree in Geological Engineering. He had a deep love for his university throughout his life, getting longhorn shirts, hats, and even going as far as decking out his car with longhorn logos and a license plate cover.

Over the following 20 years after earning his degree, he built an impressive, and successful career in the oil and gas industry as a Geological Engineer. Using the wisdom, knowledge, and determination he gained over his life to do so.

John’s faith and his relationship with God was extremely important to him. If you stood by his door at night and listened, 9 times out of ten he was praying or just talking to the Lord. John always put his whole trust into God, knowing everything would be okay at the end of the day.

He spent most of his time watching tv, specifically Stargate or one of the various Star Trek shows. Or scrolling though facebook to watch dance, cooking, and comedy reels. Kat Williams being a favorite of his.

John was not afraid of death. He welcomed it, always saying he was ready whenever the Lord was ready for him to come home. At the same time, he was a stubborn man and fought every day to stay with his family as long as he could.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel Stephens and John Stephens Sr., as well as six brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his children, John Stephens III, LaTasha Stephens, Ashley Cook, Quinton Stephens, Stacy Stephens, and Devlin Stephens; his sisters, Ella Williams and Anne Skinner; his brothers, Robert Harris and Kenneth Stephens; and a host of beloved grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and friends.

John’s legacy of love, determination, resilience, and perseverance, will live on in all who had the privilege of knowing him.

He will always be missed and forever remembered.