The Hon. Judge Arthur Trafton Stephenson was born on January 20, 1932 in Garner, KS and departed this world to be with our Lord on November 3, 2012 in his home surrounded by family and friends in Springfield, MO at the age of 80. Judge Stephenson was preceded in death by his father Charles and his mother Daisey Stephenson; his brothers Roy, John and Jay Stephenson; and his sisters Anna Moffett and Fern Henderson. Judge Stephenson was raised in Kansas City, MO where he attended public schools, graduating from Central High School in 1948. He served with the United States Marine Corps from 1950 to 1952 and was Honorably Discharged as a non-commissioned officer. Upon Judge Stephenson's discharge he entered the University of Kansas City under a Victor Wilson Scholarship. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History in June of 1956 and then earned his Bachelor of Laws in 1959 and was admitted to the Missouri Bar that same year. Judge Stephenson began his legal career in Kansas City, MO where he worked as an Assistant Prosecutor for Jackson County and later practiced law. In 1969, Judge Stephenson was appointed by then Governor Warren Hearnes to serve as Prosecutor of Pemiscot County, MO. He served several years as Prosecutor before going into private law practice in Caruthersville, MO, the county seat of Pemiscot County. In November of 1980, Judge Stephenson earned the distinction of being admitted as Attorney and Counselor to the United States Supreme Court. In 1982 Judge Stephenson was appointed by the Office of the President, the Honorable President Ronald Reagan, to serve as Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration Office of Hearings and Appeals in Charleston, WV. In 1988 he was transferred to the Office of Hearings and Appeals in Springfield, MO. Judge Stephenson would serve the Springfield Office as Administrative Law Judge beginning in June of 1988. He would later ascend to the position of Chief Judge before his retirement in March of 2011. Judge Stephenson had three children by his first marriage to JoAnn Welch, son Lantz Trafton Stephenson and daughters, Julie Ann Stephenson Showalter and Laura Marie Stephenson Boggs. From a later marriage to Donna Kay Dodson who preceded him in death in March of 2010, he had a son Mark Robert-Trafton Stephenson. He was wed to Barbara Oliver and had two step sons, Charles L. and Robert L. Oliver. He had a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, family and friends. A memorial service will be held Thursday, November 8 at 6:00pm at the South Haven Baptist Church, 2353 South Campbell, Springfield, MO with Pastor Ryan Palmer officiating. Online condolences may be made at gormanscharpf.com. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully asks that donations be made in the name of Judge Stephenson to the Disabled Veterans Administration or the Good Shepherd Hospice of Springfield.