Maralene Jeanette Stevens passed away peacefully at Collier Hospice on May 26, 2026, just weeks shy of her 92nd birthday. She was born in Childress, Texas, on July 17, 1934, to Ernest and Gladys Riddle. Maralene moved multiple times throughout the south and in Colorado before settling in Arvada, Colorado, and then marrying the love of her life, Jimmy Dean Stevens in 1974.

She devoted herself to raising her busy, blended family of four sons and working as a Surgical Tech & Buyer at Lutheran Medical Center. Once her sons left the nest, she and her husband moved to Valley Falls in his home state of Kansas. They lived a quiet life, visiting her family in Colorado when possible, and both worked at Fort Leavenworth until retirement. They shared 43 wonderful years until Jimmy Dean passed in 2017.

After his passing, she then moved back to Arvada to live with her son Flint and his wife Diana, until she was placed into Arvada Care & Rehabilitation in mid July 2024. The staff at this facility took amazing care of her, until her recent illness took her back to the hospital and ultimately passing away at hospice.

Maralene was funny, smart, often demanding, and always full of sass. If she wanted something, you knew about it, and if you didn’t take care of it right away, you heard about it until you did.

As the matriarch of a blended family, she welcomed all into her heart with unconditional acceptance, fed them Southern fried dishes (fried chicken!) and sweets (red vines, peanut M&Ms, cookies…). Most of all she was known for her devotion to her family. Her pride and joy were her four boys, who all will deny that they’re Mama’s boys (but we know the truth). Of course, she lit up whenever her grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited.

Maralene is survived by her Brother: Wayne Riddle; Sons: Frank “Ed” Crawley (Julie Roth), James “Flint” Crawley (Diana), Barry Stevens (Dezerie), and Brett Todd Crawley; Grandchildren: Cortni Crawley Hinkson (Wyatt), Blayre Spring (Adam), Kara Crawley Zirbel (Kenny,) Taylor “Hunter” Jackson (Tyler), Blake Stevens (Kharis), Rachel Root (Lewis), Bethany Pitts (Tom), David Cook (Angela); so many Great-Grandchildren: Knoxley, Jack, twins Waylon & Colt , Kaydence, Ryland, Leigha, and Grant; multiple cousins, nieces, nephews; and so many friends! She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jimmy Dean Stevens, daughter Shelley Stevens Lopez, and two siblings.

A service will be held on Friday, June 12 at 2:00 pm at Horan & McConaty Northwest/Arvada Family Chapel, located at 7577 W 80th Avenue, Arvada, CO 80003, followed by a Celebration of Life at Arvada Elks Lodge, 5700 Yukon Street, Arvada, CO 80002. All who knew Maralene are welcome to attend and celebrate her life.

For flower deliveries, please send them directly to Horan & McConaty (address above). For personal cards, notes of sympathy, or memorial donations, the family requests those be sent to Flint Crawley, 6526 Torrey Court, Arvada, CO 80007.