Obituary: Francis W. “Steve” Stephenson

Francis W. “Steve” Stephenson, the founder of Steve’s Sundry, Books and Magazines in Tulsa, Oklahoma, died on November 22 at the age of 93.

A tribute in Tulsa World recounted a conversation with Stephenson on the occasion of the store’s 60^th anniversary in 2007. Stephenson told the paper that Steve’s always tried to fill a niche. Among the store’s 60,000 books is a special concentration in local and regional interest books, and its staff has always left no stone unturned in hunting down unique books on behalf of its customers.

Richard Buthold, a sales rep who called on Steve’s for many years, said of Stevenson: “He was a remarkable merchant and talent spotter. In an age when bookstores kept looking for new products to help keep the doors open Steve’s Sundries evolved into Steve’s Books and Magazines. This old-fashioned store with its soda fountain and miles of magazines was a pioneer in just-in-time inventory and adventurous in its willingness to take chances on new writers. Steve gave his full support to books of local interest, local authors who needed a champion, the city of Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma. His customers were as loyal to him as Steve was to his employees. You won’t find a comfortable armchair in Steve’s store, but you will find the last 100 copies of a printing of a title nobody else has.”

Stephenson is survived by his wife Hazel F. (Wheatly) Stephenson, sons Richard W. Stephenson and Rev. David W. Stephenson and his wife Joanie (Steve’s current owner), and a number of grandchildren.