Ada Ellen McCurry “Granny” Stephens was born in Collbran, Colorado, on August 9, 1939, to Elbert Sidney McCurry and Mary Elizabeth Pattee. She passed away from kidney failure on May 30, 2026, at the age of 86 in the home of her son, Berin Stephens, in Orem, Utah.

Ada grew up on a ranch near Collbran and loved her time growing up as a real cowgirl. She loved her horses, pigs, and goats and spent as much time exploring the outdoors as she could. She had fond memories of watching the cows and camping on the upper pasture near the McCurry Reservoir. After she graduated from Plateau Valley High School in 1958, she and a friend took a trip up to Alaska to spend the summer. She flew into Anchorage shortly after it was announced that the Alaska Territory would become the 49th state. While there, she met Ronald William Stephens and they soon started dating. After she returned to Collbran, Ron flew down to Colorado and they were married on April 21, 1959.

They settled in Peters Creek, Alaska, in the Chugiak area. Ron owned and operated a Chevron station and an automotive repair shop and later added a grocery store, which they named ‘Granny's and Grumpy's’. Ada helped her husband run the business by doing the bookkeeping and ordering the groceries and supplies.

They had two sons, Von Dean Stephens, who passed away in 2024 due to Multiple Sclerosis, and Berin Lee Stephens. Throughout most of his life, Ron Stephens struggled against Hodgkin's Disease and the side effects of the treatments. He passed away in 1993 from congestive heart failure.

On August 9th, 1997, Ada married Leland Nielse Welsh, another long-time Alaska resident. The two of them lived in Peters Creek and enjoyed visiting family in the lower 48 in their motor home and going hunting in Alaska.

When Ada first moved to Alaska, she struggled with being so far from Colorado. Her mother-in-law, Cleda Stephens, gave her a plaque that said, 'Bloom Where You Are Planted'. Ada took it to heart. After that, she fell in love with Alaska and became an avid collector of Alaskan art. She also loved gardening and growing flowers during the summer. Most of all, though, she loved her nine grandchildren and enjoyed spoiling them as often as possible. When she first became a grandmother, she took on the title 'Granny' and it became her identity for the rest of her life.

Even though she was four feet, eleven and a half inches tall, she was a tough and feisty lady. At the same time, she was tenderhearted and extremely charitable, always willing to help those in need. She was full of energy and enthusiasm and had a snarky wit. Her sense of humor was contagious as well, always cheering up those around her by making them laugh.

Ada is survived by her husband, Leland Welsh, and her son, Berin Stephens (wife Vicky Stephens). She also leaves behind her nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. She has been preceded in death by her first husband, Ronald Stephens, and her son, Von Stephens.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, June 12th, 2026, at 11:00 am at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints building located at 80 S 280 E in Orem, Utah. A graveside service and the burial will be on Saturday, June 13th, 2026, at 11:00 am at the Cedar Crest Cemetery in Collbran, Colorado.