Posted: Monday, January 11, 2016 8:54 pm

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday for James J. Stevens Sr. of Warren-Sharon Road, Brookfield. He passed away Friday evening (1-8-16) in Trumbull Memorial Hospital, Warren, Ohio, after an extended illness. He was 70. Mr. Stevens was born Oct. 2, 1945, in Sharon to Raymond F. and Anzie Ruth Morrison Stevens. Jim was a 1963 graduate of Brookfield High School and from 1963-1966 he proudly served in the Air Force during the Vietnam conflict. In the early 1970s, he worked as a Brookfield police officer, and from 1982-2005, Jim was employed in the Civil Engineering Department of the 910 Airlift Wing of the Vienna Air Base. During that time, he was an active reservist at the base, serving as a flight engineer on the C130 and obtaining the rank of senior master sergeant. He was a member of St. Michael’s Church, Greenville, AMVETS, and the Brookfield Historical Society. Jim was an antique enthusiast and had worked as a dealer in the local area. He was an avid Lionel model train collector and held a membership with the Buhl Model Train Club. On March 17, 2005, he married the former Barbara J. Ruffing; she survives. Also, surviving are a daughter, Jill I. Evangelista and her husband Guido, Isle of Palms, S.C.; a son, James J. Stevens Jr. and his wife Shannon, Brookfield; a stepdaughter, Melissa Hunt and her husband Ben, Atlanta; a stepson, Daniel Nehlen and his wife Danielle, Greenville; 10 grandchildren; and his father-in-law, Albert Ruffing, Transfer. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Vivian Rickert; his mother-in-law, Garnet Ruffing; and his brother-in-law, Daniel Ruffing.