Earnest Melvin "Mel" Stephen

Earnest Melvin “Mel” Stephen

Born: April 24th 1945
Deceased: March 25th 2015

Mel Stephen, a native Texan, was born in Kountze and has been a resident for Vidor since the early 1950s. Mel retired after 32 years of service from DuPont Goodrich in Beaumont, Texas. Mel worked in several areas within the production and maintenance.
Mel became interested in music at an early age and received his first lap steel guitar (home-made) as a young boy in the 4th grade. His mother, Annie Stephen, started him with his first acoustic guitar lessons at age ten (10) and there is a rich history that followed. In the early years Mel honed his guitar skills playing with his friends, a variety of small bands, and in many churches.
Mel is a Viet Nam Era Veteran and took great pride in his service. While on tour with the U.S. Army in Germany in the late 1960s, he formed his own group, “Country Four Band” of which he was the lead guitarist. The group performed at the USO, Officers, NCO shows and various other social functions.
Through the years he was a member of several bands and groups. One of his most memorable events was performing in the Tex Ritter Festival in Nederland, Texas. For several years he was a member of the Black Water Band as the Pedal Steel Guitarist.
In the early 1980s he became involved with the Charlie Pruitt Country Music Show in Beaumont, Texas. For many years he played the pedal steel guitar as a member of the Country Pride Band as well as taking on the responsibilities of music director, music arranger, and band leader. He was responsible for the behind-the-scene activities and many other inconceivable task too numerous to mention. Mel’s association with the Charlie Pruitt Country Music Show lasted over 25 years until the show ended in 2007.
Mel has played with and for many well-known musicians and group including many shows for George Jones Country on the 1980s and the Mark Wheeler Group in Louisiana. Though the years Mel has been involved in projects, such as, co-producing shows and videos for television productions and jingles for commercials. Mel has also published new music and produced a number of videos and CDs for various new artists in conjunction with Dr. Wayne Dyess at Lamar University.
On Mel’s most recent project he worked through the Limelight Studio in Dickinson, Texas to record his own CD produced by Don Westmoreland, “Mel in the Limelight”. This is an amazing work that shows his wide-range of skill and flexibility.
Of the many memorable events that Mel participated his favorite was organizing a group to entertain for Uncle Frank Collin’s Christmas Parties. These parties were given for the children in the Pediatric Section at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. This show was a great joy for Mel and the music and entertainment brought smiles to many children.
Mel was a charter member (2010) of the “Star Walk of Fame” in Vidor, Texas.
Mel had a passion for music and the steel guitar. He was versatile and had the ability to revise his style to relate to a wide-range of people. He was a soft-spoken and gracious entertainer.
Mel was preceded in death by his father, Wilbertine Burl Stephen Sr., mother, Annie Pharris Stephen, and brother, Wilbertine Burl Stephen Jr.. He is survived by his brothers Samuel E. Stephen, Meridian, Texas, and Harry A. Stephen and wife Susan, Burleson, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Shriner's Hospital or a charity of your choice. There will be a private family interment at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Texas. A public celebration of Mel's life is being planned for a later date. Our heartfelt appreciation to Hazel Werner for the loving care and attention shown to Mel over the last few years.  In addition, our family is grateful for the professional services provided by the staff of Heart to Heart Hospice of Gulf Coast.