16 Jan 1936 – 22 Nov 2024

Sofie was born Sophie Elisabeth Franziska Herchet in 1936 in Forchheim, Bavaria, Germany to Leonhard Herchet and Katharina Pfeufer of Forchheim, Germany. She was the fifth of nine children in her family and the most spirited and adventurous, according to stories she told us as children. Her father served as a Postmaster and her mother was a homemaker. Young Sofie experienced first-hand the hardships of World War II and learned valuable and powerful lessons that shaped her life and values and served her well throughout her life. She shared memorable stories of many childhood adventures that became her favorite and often requested stories when we were children.

Sofie had a natural inquisitiveness and desire to learn that stayed with her throughout her life. She
taught herself English and during her life she was a voracious reader. Her “try anything” approach had her becoming an ardent gardener and landscaper, an outdoors and fishing enthusiast, a keen-eyed interior decorator and an accomplished cook who was completely comfortable crafting classic recipes in European, Asian, and American cuisine – as well as creating her own delicious dishes which she shared
with all of us.

Sofie always had an impeccable sense of style and fashion. Her eye for color, fabric and quality set her
apart; she innately understood the difference between fashion and fad and could find a way to achieve the desired results without an unlimited budget by making many of her clothes and suits as well as those of her children and decorating her home.

She loved her family deeply and enjoyed any opportunity to be with them. Throughout the years she took advantage of spending time with her brothers and sisters, daughters and grandchildren by traveling to Israel, Egypt, Germany, Austria, Japan, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Georgia. In her later years, she particularly enjoyed learning about DNA and her ancestry and viewing photos and videos of her great-grandchildren on her iPad. She would view the photos and videos repeatedly, picking out interesting details about each that she would talk to us about.

Sofie was there to always support her daughters and their families through everyday life and any difficult challenges they might encounter. Her optimism, generosity, kindness and great sense of humor were her trademark. No daughter could have asked for a better or sweeter mother. She was always there for her girls. Sofie’s wisdom, kind heart, quick wit and endearing laugh will be sorely missed. She leaves behind her greatest legacy, a loving family and a lifetime of memories for all who were privileged to have known her.

Sofie was preceded in death by her husband Steve D. Stevens; her parents; siblings Maria Gertraud Gephart, Adolf Herchet, Hermann Herchet, Friedrich Herchet, Albert Herchet, and Anna Elisabeth “Bobbie” Spradlin.

She is survived by her four daughters, her sisters Franziska Herchet Ioannou and Gertrud Herchet Corn, her ten grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Sofie’s wishes were to have no formal service, and that her ashes be scattered in nature.