Betty Lee Stephens

Betty Lee (Duggan) Nipper Stephens was born January 3, 1938, in Wilburton, OK.   She grew up in Shawnee, OK with her parents, Raymond and Maggie Duggan and sister Wilma Hixson.

Betty attended and graduated from Shawnee High School in 1956.  She then attended and graduated from Neff Business School and went to work at the Sylvania Plant.

On October 6, 1957, she married the love of her life Carl Nipper.

They lived in Shawnee until October 1966 when they moved to the country into the house they built together.

Betty and Carl had four children, Carla, Brian, Greg and Michele, who attended Earlsboro Schools where they were active in all sports, 4H programs and church activities.  They also spent many hours growing huge gardens and raising cattle to feed their family.

Betty was a full-time mom until everyone was in school and she began work as a secretary at the East Main church of Christ where she had been a long-term member.

Betty could cook.  She was featured in the Shawnee Home Extension Office for her cooking and baking, and everyone loved her biscuits.

Her other life passion was her church family, rarely missing a service at East Main and later Central church of Christ.

She began working at Tinker Air Force Base. She and Carl rode to work together until he retired.  She worked in the Inspector General’s office, Engineering and the E3 AWACS division. She retired in January 2000.

After Carl passed away, she married Dave Emery, enjoying 12 years of traveling and family together.

In 2019 she married her final love Lynn Stephens and enjoyed 5 years of marriage traveling and taking care of each other. 

During all these years she kept busy enjoying her grandkids and later great grandchildren and following their sports, Ag and church activities, which brought her so much joy.  They enjoyed many lake trips, vacations and time spent with family and many church friends.

Betty passed this life unexpectedly on March 4th.  She will be missed by all friends and family. 

Betty is survived by Lynn Stephens, Carla Dame and husband Mark, Brian Nipper and wife Dena, Greg Nipper and Michele Mehring and husband Darrell.  Grandchildren Ashley Scott and husband Mark and their daughters Haleigh, Marissa and MacKenna; Jessica Bryant and husband Cole and children Wyatt, Willow and Tatum; Chris Nipper and wife Kelsey and son Raylan; and Tanner Nipper.  Lynn’s children Bob and Janet Stephens, Chris and Shelley Stephens and Kelly and Stephen Trifiletti and their families.  Her sister Wilma Hixson, brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Jo Nipper and many nieces, nephews and family and friends.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday March 7, 2026, and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday March 8, 2026, with family gathering to greet friends and loved ones from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Cooper Funeral Home, Tecumseh, Oklahoma. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday March 9, 2026, at Central Church of Christ, Shawnee, Oklahoma. Burial will follow at Resthaven Memorial Gardens, under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home.