John Paul Stephens, 86 of Whitewright, Texas was called to his heavenly home on June 29, 2022 at his home in Whitewright after a brief illness.

Johnny Paul was born March 24, 1936 in Whitewright to Paul and Mary Stephens. He attended Texas A&M University, Commerce (formerly East Texas State University) where he studied agriculture and rode bareback and bulls in the university rodeo club. He married his beloved wife, Diane (Pierce) Stephens in Trenton, Texas on July 23, 1966. Johnny Paul was a life long farmer and rancher. He drove his first tractor when he was five years old. He loved the land and farming but his faith in God was the cornerstone of his life. He always ended his day by reading his daily devotional and Bible.

He regaled friends and family with countless stories. He loved to laugh and always enjoyed a good joke. His favorite pastime in his later years was watching bull riding and rodeos on television. He was a kind and loving son, husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was honest to a fault and never failed to tell his family he loved them and to be careful when they left the house.

Johnny Paul was a member of Kentucktytown Baptist church, Whitewright Masonic Lodge NO.167 AF&M and was a Scottish Rite Mason for 60 years.

He is survived by his daughter, Teresa McLain and husband Scott of North Richland Hills; granddaughters, Kaysey McLain of McKinney and Emily McLain of Bryan; grandsons, Noah Falefia and Cooper Coley both of Whitewright; great-grandson, John Stephen Falefia of Whitewright; nephew, Cliff Waits of Trabuco Canyon, California; niece, Stella Ralph of San Jose, California; and close friends, Gail Clark and Kathy Coley of Whitewright.

Johnny Paul was reunited in heaven with his wife, Diane; daughter, Katherine (Stephens) Coley; parents, Paul and Mary Stephens; sister, Mary Frances Waits.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Mullican Little Funeral Home 754 State Hwy 56 E. Bells, Texas 75414 with the Reverend Rodney Stanford officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Whitewright.