Charles Marion Stevens Iii

Charles “Charlie” Stevens III, age 29, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 14, 2022, at his home in De Soto, Kansas.

Charlie was born in Charleston, South Carolina, moving to Barrington, Illinois shortly after. He spent his formative years in Glen Allen, Virginia (Richmond area), attending Shady Grove Elementary School and Short Pump Middle School. He then moved to Lenexa, Kansas (Kansas City Metropolitan Area), where he graduated from Olathe Northwest High School.
An outstanding athlete, Charlie focused on ice hockey during middle and high school, playing goalie for the KC Stars. He and his family spent many early mornings at the local ice rinks, and many weekends traveling to tournament sites in Philadelphia, Raleigh, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Des Moines, and St. Louis.

Born with a strong passion to serve his country and willingness to accept a challenge, Charlie enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school. He graduated from boot camp in San Diego, California and Military Police School at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Upon designation as a member of the Marine Corps Military Police, Lance Corporal Stevens was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he eventually returned to civilian life. Charlie took pride in his Marine Corps service and was flying the Marine Corps flag at his home when he passed.
He was initially employed in the Kansas City area by Titan Security, and for the last several years was working at Stryten Manufacturing in Kansas City, Kansas.

Charlie was the consummate outdoorsman, working one summer as a guide for white water rafting trips in Montana—then spent a winter working as a ski instructor in Colorado. Most weekends he could be found camping, hiking, or fishing, and was usually accompanied by his two beloved dogs, Athena and Raja.
As a champion of the underdogs, Charlie had a gift for instructing children like his niece, who absolutely adored him, or caring for his elderly grandparents. His family will always remember Charlie’s award-winning smile, his wit, and his oversized heart that he wore on his sleeve.
Anyone who truly knew Charlie knew he would give the shirt off his back to help another. He loved fiercely, and his laugh was contagious. Charlie’s personality was magnetic, and he lit up any room that he walked into. At his core, Charlie was pure and full of love.

Charlie is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Bud and Christine Stevens, and maternal grandfather, Tom Wilkinson. He is survived by his parents, Jane and Chuck Stevens; sister Claire Blevins; niece Haley Grace Blevins; and grandmother Marlys Wilkinson.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations be made in Charlie’s honor to the Greater Kansas City Council of the Navy League, which can be made online at https://navyleaguekansascity.org/take-action/ or to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (“NAMI”), which can be made online at https://donate.nami.org.
A private family service will be held at a later date.