Carol Lee Stephens

With humble acceptance of God’s will, Carol Lee Stephens, 68, born on February 11, 1955, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 7, 2024. She leaves behind a dysfunctional family that she was very proud of. Carol was world-renowned for her lack of patience, not holding back her opinion, and a knack for telling it like it is. She was also very good at telling the truth, even if it wasn’t what you wanted to hear. We were told many times how we needed to just “Suck it up.” She was genuine to a fault, with a huge heart but, sugar- coated nothing. Her words of encouragement, wisdom, comfort and security of a home base kept us in line while teaching us the “school of hard knocks.” These values we share proudly with our children. Everyone knew exactly where they stood with her, and she didn’t mind sharing that information with you at any time. Carol was determined! She attained her education while balancing her family, work, and school goals to reach her greatest accomplishment of multiple college degrees! This led her to begin a second career as a teacher. She enjoyed her time at Springtown High school where she retired after twenty years. She shared the same values with all her children she taught at school. Believe me, she treated them just like family and loved each of them just as much. She will be missed by so many people that loved her just the way she was. She is survived by her twin brothers, Peter Mantz and Paul Mantz; sister-n-law, Karoline Mantz; her first Genius daughter, Patricia Wilber (aka Marlene); her calming daughter-in-law, Bonnie Wilber; her favorite daughter, Valarie Gauger (aka Nikki); and the best son-in-law Jean Gauger; her daughter from another mother Dawn Perrone (aka Dawn Dawn); her First favorite grandson and namesake Stephen Lee Ponce de Leon, who was born on her birthday; Second favorite granddaughter Makenzie Gauger (aka Bug) that was born to her favorite daughter Valarie; her smartest granddaughter Natalie Ponce de Leon (aka Boo) who was born to the genius daughter, Patricia and her last but not least, most special grandson, Everic Wilber. Oh, wait, and her special bonus grandchildren Warren Stehn (aka Lil Wa), and Katrina Riley (aka Trina). She also had a recent addition of a great granddaughter Cynthia Caldero and TBD baby Ponce de Leon, eta July of 2024, that she was super excited about. She was preceded in death by her loving, stubborn mother Patricia Bertrand, where she gets everything (honestly) from; her father, Donald Mantz; and her Rubik’s cube master grandson, Jeramiah Ponce de Leon (aka Miah). She has requested, and the family is honoring, not to have a memorial service so they can honor her final wish of sending her daughters alone together on a tropical vacation to scatter her ashes later. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, please donate either to St Jude’s Hospital, Shiner’s Hospital or the Donate Life Texas in Carol’s name. This is her life story…. IT IS WHAT IT IS!!! Love us.