Cortez High School Alumni
Phoenix, Arizona (AZ)
In Memory of
Ronald Lee Stevens
1955-2026
Born Jul 23, 1955, Ronald Lee Stevens attended Cortez High School in Phoenix, AZ.
Class of 1973
Jul 23, 1955 - Aug 29, 2026
Jul 23, 1955 - Aug 29, 2026
Ronald Lee Stevens, age 71 passed away peacefully at home on August 29, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born the youngest of three children to Lillian and Lanier Stevens on July 23, 1955, in Porterville, CA and is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Carol Elizabeth Stevens; three children Sherrie Potter (Billy), Jenny Montgomery (Aaron), and Lori Emmott (Zachary); two siblings Marcia (Dennis), and Steve (Nancy), and ten grandchildren, Elijah (Hannah), Emily, Jane, Ryan, Emmaline, Austin, Lydia, Caleb, and Daniel.
Ron lived in central and southern California for four years before moving to Phoenix, AZ where he grew up and attended Palo Verde Elementary School and Cortez High School. After graduation from High School, Ron attended the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co. He met his future wife the week before entering the Academy while visiting his sister in Denver, CO. Hours after graduating from the Air Force Academy on June 1, 1977, Ron and Carol were married in the Air Force Academy Chapel, the first wedding for the Class of 1977.
Ron remained at the Academy working in the Public Affairs office while waiting for pilot training and while Carol was completing her last year of Nursing School. He attended pilot training in Del Rio, Texas from Jan – Dec 1978, and Carol joined him after her graduation in May 1978. After pilot training, Ron and Carol moved to Great Falls, MT where Carol also spent three years as an active-duty Air Force nurse. Their assignments would take them to Panama City, FL; Austin, TX; Okinawa, Japan; Hampton, VA; Ft. Leavenworth, KS; Vicenza, Italy; Washington D.C.; Tokyo, Japan; and culminating back in Del Rio, TX.
Following his retirement from the Air Force on August 31, 2004, Ron flew as a commercial airline pilot for ExpressJet Airlines, where he also became involved with the Air Line Pilots Association in various leadership positions. He was the Master Executive Council Vice Chairman in 2020 when the airline ceased operations and continued working for ALPA as a pilot custodian and consultant until early 2026. Ron also was involved with his local Citizens Police Academy and volunteered his time at his local library providing tech support to other retirees. He also joined the Civil Air Patrol as a senior member to better spend time with five of his grandchildren who were also members in two separate squadrons. He passed on his love of flying to his daughter, Sherrie, and provided instruction to her while she got her wings in 2022 and also ignited the desire to fly in three of his grandsons, Ryan, Caleb, and Daniel, through CAP. Ron was a lifetime MENSA society member since 1980, and loved games, trivia and puzzles, especially with family.
Ron lived in central and southern California for four years before moving to Phoenix, AZ where he grew up and attended Palo Verde Elementary School and Cortez High School. After graduation from High School, Ron attended the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Co. He met his future wife the week before entering the Academy while visiting his sister in Denver, CO. Hours after graduating from the Air Force Academy on June 1, 1977, Ron and Carol were married in the Air Force Academy Chapel, the first wedding for the Class of 1977.
Ron remained at the Academy working in the Public Affairs office while waiting for pilot training and while Carol was completing her last year of Nursing School. He attended pilot training in Del Rio, Texas from Jan – Dec 1978, and Carol joined him after her graduation in May 1978. After pilot training, Ron and Carol moved to Great Falls, MT where Carol also spent three years as an active-duty Air Force nurse. Their assignments would take them to Panama City, FL; Austin, TX; Okinawa, Japan; Hampton, VA; Ft. Leavenworth, KS; Vicenza, Italy; Washington D.C.; Tokyo, Japan; and culminating back in Del Rio, TX.
Following his retirement from the Air Force on August 31, 2004, Ron flew as a commercial airline pilot for ExpressJet Airlines, where he also became involved with the Air Line Pilots Association in various leadership positions. He was the Master Executive Council Vice Chairman in 2020 when the airline ceased operations and continued working for ALPA as a pilot custodian and consultant until early 2026. Ron also was involved with his local Citizens Police Academy and volunteered his time at his local library providing tech support to other retirees. He also joined the Civil Air Patrol as a senior member to better spend time with five of his grandchildren who were also members in two separate squadrons. He passed on his love of flying to his daughter, Sherrie, and provided instruction to her while she got her wings in 2022 and also ignited the desire to fly in three of his grandsons, Ryan, Caleb, and Daniel, through CAP. Ron was a lifetime MENSA society member since 1980, and loved games, trivia and puzzles, especially with family.