Elizabeth Iona "Ione" Stevens (nee Pruitt), Indianapolis, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2025 in Indianapolis. She was 104 years old. From growing up in the hills of southern Kentucky, to raising a family of five children and fourteen grandchildren, she lived an extraordinary life and was beloved by her family, extended family and many friends.

Ione grew up in a tightknit community in Monroe County. As the oldest daughter, Ione learned at a young age the skills to help care for her family, including baking biscuits for breakfast every morning. Although she loved learning at the nearby one-room schoolhouse, when she was in middle school her mother became ill, and she had to forgo further education in order to take care of her siblings. In her later years she retained strong memories of a childhood spent in the woods, swimming in creeks and playing with cornhusk dolls. When she was 13, midway through the depression, the family was unable to make ends meet, and, like so many other families in Appalachia at the time, moved north to Indiana in search of work and a better life.

It was in Indiana that she reconnected with Lester Stevens, who had also grown up in Kentucky, and also moved to Indiana in search of work. They married in 1940 and had their first child in 1941. They lived first in Indianapolis, and later Southport, and raised five children. With a backyard garden and some poultry, she was able to prepare most of the family's food from scratch.

Ione had a strong faith, and attended church at Garfield Heights Church of Christ. She was known for her kind, loving spirit, and was adored by everyone she met. Ione was skilled not just as a gardener and cook, but also at baking, quilt-making, knitting and crochet. A talent in the kitchen, she was known for her pies, cakes, cookies, and her infamous chocolate gravy, served on biscuits for breakfast. She won many blue ribbons for her quilts, crochet and baked goods at both the Johnson County and Indiana State Fairs, and made dozens of quilts for family members. In her later years, she also was active on a bowling league and a regular at water aerobics.

Vivacious and spry well into her late 90s, Ione was a deeply kind person who brought out the best in people. Her spirit lives on in our hearts.

Ione was preceded in death by her husband Lester Tee Stevens; her parents Jesse Virgil Pruitt and Zelma Lee Dyer Pruitt; her seven siblings; son Lester Evan Stevens and grandsons Daric Gamache and Nicholas Jacobi. She is survived by four daughters and their spouses, Zelma Taylor (Gordon Goodwin); Betty Gamache (Dennis), Rosie Doty, Freddi Stevens-Jacobi (Bob Jacobi), twelve grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

A private family funeral will be held Monday October at 11am at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens & Funeral Home, 1977 S State Rd 135, Greenwood, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Gleaners Food Bank, Indianapolis.