Christopher Gist Stephens died peacefully on June 14, 2023, at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, a little over a year after being diagnosed with gastric cancer.
Chris was born on July 20, 1950, in Brownwood, Texas. He graduated from Bangs High School in 1968, Rice University in 1972 and UT Southwestern Medical School in 1976. He completed his internship and residency at the VCU School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia, and a fellowship in rheumatology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. In 1980, he moved home to Brownwood and was in private rheumatology and internal medicine practice there for 35 years, except for brief stints at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Scott & White in Temple, Texas. He retired from his practice in 2016 and moved to Nashville.
He was a good doctor, husband, father, son, brother and friend. He found sustaining purpose and meaning in his medical practice and considered it his life’s work. He always loved music, flowers, trees, birds and the outdoors and was an enthusiastic student his entire life. Chris relished telling and hearing stories and felt fortunate to get to know so many people during his long practice, in every neighborhood where he lived and recently at Blakemore United Methodist Church in Nashville. Chris found great comfort in the poetry of Stanley Kunitz and Tony Hoagland during his last months.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Joe Bill and Louisa McLean Stephens. He is survived by his wife, Nancy Cadenhead Clements Stephens, and his daughter, Emma (Kate) Stephens, both of Nashville; his siblings and their spouses, John M. and Madelyn Stephens of Houston, Texas, William G. (Bill) Stephens and Lynn Carlson of Granite Shoals, Texas, Lisa Kilpatrick of Kerrville, Texas, and Timothy G. (Tim) and Angela Stephens of Dallas, Texas, and their families; his Stephens cousins and many friends and former patients.
Chris appreciated the excellent doctors, nurses and staff at the Tennessee Oncology Southern Hills Clinic, Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute and TriStar Centennial Medical Center and the nurses and staff of Alive Hospice who eased his final days. He was deeply touched by the loving support of his family, neighbors and friends during his illness.
Memorial services are planned in Nashville and Texas at later dates.
Please sign the guestbook for the family at www.crawfordservices.com.