EMMA LORETTA STEPHEN ELDER, 90, of Breckenridge,
TX, passed away on July 22, 2021, with interment
in Evergreen Cemetery at Ranger, TX.
Loretta Stephen was born in Ranger, TX on Dec. 13,
1930, to parents Bennie Edward Stephen & Vida Belle
(Chambers) Stephen.She graduated in 1948 from Ranger
High School, where she was voted as the Personality
Plus award winner. Shortly after graduation, she
married the love of her life, Sammie Lee Elder (RHS-
1948). The two were married in Ranger in Aug. of
1948. The couple was married for over four decades
until his passing in 1989. Together they had three
children: two sons and a daughter.
Loretta lived a long and happy life, and on her 90th
birthday, she expressed that she would not have changed
one thing about her life!
She loved playing cards and dominoes with her friends,
and she did a pretty good job at bowling as well. She
and Sammie spent several nights a week at the bowling
alley enjoying the game and laughing with friends. She
also loved camping at Possum Kingdom State Park and
cooking on the campfire along with Nalda Cockrell, her
lifetime friend and sidekick. Loretta was extremely
fond of traveling and being able to see new things.
She had such fun memories of the First Baptist Church
Triple L group and her trips to the mountains with
Uncle Alvin.
She had a fierce love for her grandchildren & followed
and supported everything they did. Whether it was a
baseball game, softball game, volleyball game, or track
meet, you would always find her in the stands wearing
her visor, ready to cheer them on. That love only
increased as her great-grandchildren grew and became
involved in sports. She loved to watch them play and
was always excited to talk about how good she thought
they had done. She was so proud of each and every
single one of them!
Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Bennie
Edward & Vida Belle Stephen; her husband, Sammie Lee
Elder; brothers, Jack Stephen and Edward Lee Stephen;
and sister, Zelda Faye Stephen Johnson (RHS-1944).
Loretta's legacy is the family she leaves behind a
family who will dearly miss her. She is survived by
her sons, Bennie Dean Elder and wife Stephanie of
Kilgore, TX, and Clay Elder and wife Carole, of
Breckenridge; daughter, Derinda Holland and husband
Rocky of Breckenridge; grandchildren, Cindy Elder
Rose, Ronnie Elder, Kari Holland Shea and husband
Jason, Kelly Holland Hedge & husband Codie, Cassie
Elder Wimberley and husband Cory, Kippi Holland
Lattimore and husband Tres, and Caleb Elder and
wife Stephanie; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-
great-grandchild; along with numerous nieces and
nephews.