Joseph Hudson Stevens, 94, of Montgomery City, Missouri, died May 20 ^th , 2021, in New Florence, Missouri. Joe was born on April 28 ^th , 1927, in Montgomery City to Walker Warden Stevens and Bertha Marie Hudson Stevens.

He graduated from Montgomery City High School and married Marilyn Louise Hoffmeyer in Wellsville, Missouri, on April 5, 1952. Joe served in the U.S. Army during the Occupation of Japan at the end of World War II. He farmed with his father until he purchased his own farm west of Montgomery City, where he and Marilyn raised their family together.

Joe and Marilyn loved farming and were innovative especially in soil conservation methods. They won the Conservation Farmer of the Year award for Montgomery County as well as then becoming the eventual statewide winner of the first Hugh Hammond Bennett Conservation Award in December 2019. Some of the innovative practices they created were strip till and terracing with underground tile outlets and no till farming to reduce soil erosion. They provided tours of their farm and practices to all Montgomery County fifth graders starting in 1982, tours that continue to this day.

They were very active in Montgomery County Farm Bureau and Joe served as the County President and served on various state-wide committees.

Joe and Marilyn were active musically in the community and belonged to the Missouri Fiddlers and Country Music Association. They were charter members of the Montgomery County Old Threshers Association. They traveled all over the Midwest to music festivals, fiddle contests, and jam sessions. A testament to his guitar-playing skills, Joe recorded a couple of albums where he accompanied a state fiddle champion, Pete McMahan.  Joe and Marilyn sang in their church choirs and were also active in the Concerts in The Park. They started monthly jam sessions at the Montgomery County Senior Center which were very popular and still continue today.

Joe is survived by one daughter and two sons: Melba Price and husband Bill of Jefferson City, Missouri, Barry Stevens and wife Donna of Ashland, Missouri, and Mark Stevens and wife Cherie of Montgomery City. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Dr. Kendra Price-Salyer and husband Jim, Katelyn Price and Jerick Schrock, and Kassandra Price; Ben Stevens, Josh Stevens and Angela Stevens; and Luke Stevens and wife Abby. Joe is survived by four great-grandchildren: Katherine and Samuel Stevens; Will Salyer; and Walker Stevens. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilyn Stevens; a sister, Ruth Hart, and her husband, Pete Hart; a brother, Walker Warden Stevens, Jr.; an infant sister; and a grandson, Tyler Stevens.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Monday, May 24, 2021 at the Faith Baptist Church, 100 North Sturgeon Street, Montgomery City, MO 63361 The Rev. John Brumagin will officiate and interment will be in the Montgomery City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:00 am – noon on Monday at Faith Baptist Church.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Faith Baptist Church, the Senior Center of Montgomery County or the Tyler Stevens Basketball Scholarship Fund c/o Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO 63361.