Hal Stephens, 93, of Flagstaff passed away July 24, 2010 at the Peaks Assisted Living. He was born in Cheefo, China June 8, 1917 to Howard and Fleeta Stephens.

He Came to US in 1923, settled in Columbia, Mo, attended school there, eventually graduating with an AB and MA in Geology in 1941. In April 13, 1941, married Dorothy Douglas in Columbia, Mo. They had two sons: Jeff of Page, AZ and Val of Park City, UT.

Hal Joined the US Geological Survey in 1942 and began geologic mapping and exploration, until 1945. We he left to served in the U.S. Army in 1945-1946 for 13 months. Upon return from his service he taught Geology at University of Missouri from 1946 to 1947, then became a full time employee of the USGS.

In 1964, transferred to the Branch of Astrogeology in Flagstaff, AZ, and was responsible for film documentation of astronaut training exercises prior to the Apollo missions of NASA. Was later assigned to establish a data system to maintain file photos of future lunar and Mars spacecraft missions. Hal retired from the USGS in 1977 and began work on a book following the John Wesley Powell centennial in 1969. The book, "In the Footsteps of John Wesley Powell", with Eugene Shoemaker as co-author was published by the Powell Society, LTD and Johnson Books in 1987. Around 1995, Hal began writing poetry, and after writing over 600 poems, he selected 175 which were published and hardbound in 2002.

Hal's great fascination and love was the outdoors, spending much of his spare time camping, fishing, hunting, and motorcycle touring, most of it with long time best friend Dale Sutphen of Flagstaff, AZ. Hal knew, loved, and served the Lord all of his life. Hal will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved him.

At his request there will not be a public service. Memorial donations my be made in Hal's name to Hospice Compassus, 1000 N Humphrey's St, Ste 220, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.