Alva Bryan Stem Jr., 65, devoted Christian, Husband, Father & Pappy died tragically on August 3, 2021.
Service Information: Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 11, at Lake Shore Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Page and Pastor Greg Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Moore Cemetery in Chalk Bluff. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 10, at the funeral home.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 11, at Lake Shore Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Page and Pastor Greg Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Moore Cemetery in Chalk Bluff. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 10, at the funeral home.
Alva was born in Waco, Texas on August 9, 1955 to Alva and Helen Stem. He graduated from Richfield High School in 1973 and then went on to pursue a Bachelor degree in Business from Tarleton State University. On July 12, 1980 he married the love of his life, Sherry Butler, a second-generation builder, whom he also met at Tarleton State. They later welcomed two beautiful children, Sheena & Rex, who were the most important part of his life.
Alva retired with 26 years from the City of Waco as a Supervisor of the Engineering Department and retired after 14 years from TxDOT as District Land Surveyor. He was a Registered Surveyor and owned Stem Surveying. He was a Partner with Stem Properties which he operated until his untimely death on the job. Alva was also a Registered Real Estate Broker. He was a proud member of the Texas Game Warden Association for 10 years and former President of the Chalk Bluff Volunteer Fire Department.
Alva was the ultimate Handy-Man and Jack-of-all-trades. There’s nothing he couldn’t fix. He was a problem solver and a deep thinker-often times taking on extra tasks from his family and neighbors. He enjoyed seeing the world with Sherry. His favorite place was Rome, Italy. Alva loved golf cart rides with Sherry to watch the sunset, spending time at their lake house, boating, visiting with neighbors, and having campfires. He loved spending time with Sheena and playing with his grandson, Braxton. He loved being with Rex at every concrete pour and all of Rex’s construction projects. Alva & Sherry attended Antioch Community Church.
He was preceded in death by his father, Alva Stem Sr., and father-in-law, Rex Butler.
Alva is survived by his mother, Helen Stem; wife, Sherry Stem; daughter, son-in-law and grandson, Sheena, Blake & Braxton Olenick; son & girlfriend, Rex Stem and Lauren Payne; mother-in-law, Barbara Butler; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Woody and Pam Butler; aunt, Susie Moon; niece and nephew, LuAnne Butler and Roger Frields; sister and brother-in-law, Susie and Herb Houston; his beloved dog, Tink; cat, Craven and several other nieces and nephews. Alva will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan’s Purse in memory of Alva Stem Jr.
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
Prayers and blessings during this difficult time. Love to all. Rita Arnold
You all are in my prayers during this difficult time. Please know that God is with you. Love and prayers.
My condolences to the Stem and Butler family.
Alva was a good friend and fellow surveyor. We studied for and sat for the professional land surveyor exam together. He was always willing to take the time to help his friends. I’ll miss you, Alva. May God comfort your family and friends.
Steve
Sherry and family, Donna and I are praying that God will hold you all in his loving arms.
A beautifully written obituary about a wonderful man who will be missed by many. Our love and prayers for Sherry, Rex and Sheena.
Susan, Bryan and Wiley Stem
My deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences.
Prayers and blessings to the family. I worked for Alva and the family for several years. He was a all around great person.
Sherry, Sheena, & Rex – I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with y’all!!!
Unbelievable loss, he was always smiling.
Sorry for your lose. Prayers will be coming your you and your family from Donald Littleton and family.
My deepest sympathies to the family, I know he will be greatly missed. I worked with Alva at TxDot and considered him a friend. I last saw him at Home Depot, he was always busy with the rental properties, and we caught up on all the things that have been happening and I am glad to have had that last time seeing him. He was a good man.
As a friend of Sheena, the first time I met Alva he was seated with the second love of his life(sorry Rex and Sheena), Tinkerbell aka Tink, in his lap. I extended my hand to shake his and he quickly stood up to shake mine and to offer me his seat. Alva welcomed me like family. Over time, I began to learn about Alva’s selfless nature through Sheena. Like the time he comforted a mother and child involved in a serious car accident, and the time he foiled a neighborhood burglary and followed suspects until law enforcement arrived, to assisting Sheena with numerous flat tires and home maintenance over the years. Alva was a mans’s-man, protective of his family, and took care of others by putting their needs before his own. My sincerest thoughts and prayers are with Alva’s family. May the memories they have of Alva keep him alive in their hearts as well.
Sherry, Sheena, Blake, Braxton, Rex, Lauren and Family, you all are in our thoughts and prayers. May god wrap his arms around all of you during this difficult time and keep you safe. Hugs for all.
When Bob McNairy and I worked for TxDot while Alva was at the City of Waco Engineering we had many meetings with Alva. You could never meet a nicer or more helpful man. What has happened is such a tragedy and such a poor testimony to the new America… God bless the family… My prayer is that the time of such pain will quickly become a time of remembering a life well lived…!!! God’s blessings always.
Our love and prayers are always with you. May God give you peace and strength to endure this tragic time. Alva was a blessing to all and has left his memory to all who knew him. We love you. Ron and Jenny Martin
Sherry and family. I know your loss is great. Alva was such a good man. Always so kind and helpful and loved by so many people. I worked with Alva in some way for many years thru the title business and I always knew I could depend on Alva. Knowing the families of Stem and Butler was a privilege. I pray that God will hold your hands during this time of loss but please know that Alva was the best and he will be missed
Prayers for comfort to the Stem family.
So very sorry for you loss. May God give you peace and comfort in the days ahead. Blessings to the family.
Dana McCoy
Condolences, team mate (fellow VA employee). Loved “His favorite place was Rome, Italy.”
So very sorry . No words convey the shock and sadness . We are thinking of you all. Bret and Lori
We are so sorry to hear of the tragic death of Alva Jr. Prayers of peace and strength thru these sad days,
It breaks our heart to have to write on this , Alva touched the lives of many and was always such a joy to be around.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as you endure such a tragic loss. There is comfort knowing he is in the arms of our God.
Woody & Pam ,
So sorry to hear about the passing of your brother in law . Know that your family is in our thoughts and prayers .
Tommy & Cheryl Pratka
Sherry and family, my heart goes out to you all. Prayers for peace and comfort in the days to come.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Prayers for peace and comfort during this difficult time.
I am very sorry for your loss. I worked with Alva at the City of Waco. He was such a kind person with a smile on his face. May God bring you peace and comfort.
Sherry and family, our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May God give you peace. Alva was such an amazing man.
Sheena, You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.