Leo Edward Stevens

Leo Edward Stevens, 82, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 7, 2018.

Leo was born in Saginaw, Michigan on April 7, 1936 to the late Leo F. and Alta M. Stevens. When he was seven, his family relocated to Miami, Florida, later to New Orleans, Louisiana, and finally to San Antonio, Texas where he graduated from Central Catholic High School. Leo married his high school sweetheart, the former Margaret Ann Fordyce in 1957. He attended Texas A&M University and was a graduate of the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago, an internationally known brewing school.

Leo began his brewing career with Lone Star Brewing Company in San Antonio, Texas and continued his career with the company as head of quality control in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. While in Oklahoma, Leo was a member of the Jaycees and was elected as a state vice-president.

In 1968, he joined the Pabst Brewing Company in Newark, New Jersey as Brewing Supervisor. Leo was later part of the start-up team for a new Pabst Brewery in Perry, Georgia and was reassigned there in 1970. He eventually retired in 1989 from Heileman/Stroh Brewing Company as the Master Brewer. Leo owned Minuteman Press Printing Company in Macon for five years and rejoined the Stroh Brewing Company in Perry where he produced Arizona Tea. He retired in 1996.

He was a former member of The Masters Brewers Association of America and of the Society of Brewing Chemists. Leo was an avid sports enthusiast and golfer for many years. He was also a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Warner Robins, Georgia.

In addition to his parents, Leo was preceded in death by his two infant sons, Mark and Greg Stevens; his daughter, Kristin Stevens Parsons; and his sister, Donna Hiss.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Fordyce Stevens of Warner Robins; daughters, Lori Freeman of Warner Robins and Kerry Jendon (Terry) of Atlanta, Georgia; grandchildren, Mark Freeman (Crystal) of Statesboro, Georgia, Alex Freeman of Warner Robins, Matt Parsons (Kayla) of Warner Robins, Sydney Parsons of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Haley Stevens of Atlanta, Georgia, and Sean Parsons of Ramstein, Germany; and great-grandchildren, Aubree and Sara Freeman, and Sterling Parsons.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 10, 2018, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home with Monsignor Fred Nijem officiating. Leo will be laid to rest the following day.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial donations be given in memory of Leo Stevens to Hospice Care Options, 306 N. Davis Drive, Suite C, Warner Robins, GA 31093.

McCullough Funeral Home has the privilege of being entrusted with Mr. Stevens’ arrangements.