Vonnie Mae (Jevne) Stearns

Vonnie Mae Jevne Stearns passed away at the age of 89 at Caroline’s Cottage in Ridgeland, South Carolina on August 16, 2023, following a major stroke on August 5th.  Vonnie was born on February 26, 1934, in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to Angeline King Jevne and Franz Ferdinand Jevne.

After attending Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana, Vonnie moved to Denver with two girlfriends, Nonie and Une. The three girls made a pact that when one of them got a date, that date had to ask two friends to go on the date with the other two roommates. Fortune smiled upon her, and she met her husband, Ellis, who was serving in the Air Force, on one of those blind dates! Vonnie & Ellis were happily married for 66 years and had three children: Angie, Mark, and Dan.  Vonnie was a wonderful homemaker who volunteered countless hours serving her neighborhood, church, schools, and various sports teams her sons played on.  Vonnie’s passion was Duplicate Bridge, and it was a proud day when she received her Life Masters! She enjoyed bowling, tennis, and all kinds of games—nothing brought her more pleasure than having her entire family together playing Cancellation Hearts! Vonnie brought fun to everything she did and always had many friends.

In 2000, Vonnie and El relocated from Severna Park, Maryland to Sun City Hilton Head.  They happily embraced the active adult lifestyle and loved living in Sun City.  Vonnie played duplicate bridge, pinochle, croquet, Mah Jongg, and chimes.  Vonnie enjoyed traveling, especially Tauck tours.

Vonnie was an active member of Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, where she enjoyed singing in the choir and ringing handbells.

Vonnie is survived by her three children: Angie Harting of Bluffton, South Carolina; Mark (Rose) of Frisco, Texas; and Dan (Kim) of Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  She is also survived by five grandchildren: Rob Harting, Laura Vreeland, Matthew Stearns, Brittany Auclair (Steve) and Shayna Bolton (John-Mark); and seven great-grandchildren: Ryan, Liam, Maggie, Stearns, Madison, Rollins and Charlotte.  Vonnie was predeceased by her parents, her husband Ellis, son-in-law Bill Harting, sister and brother-in-law, Shirley & Jim Jensen, brother and sister-in-law Dennis & Carol Jevne and nephew Christopher Jevne.

A funeral service will be held Friday, August 25th at 11:00 am at Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, 10 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton, South Carolina, followed by interment at Beaufort National Cemetery.

Sauls Funeral Home of Bluffton, South Carolina and Reverend Chris Herrin, Pastor of Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, are handling funeral arrangements for the family. The burial will be held at Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friends of Caroline Hospice, 329 Friends Lane, Ridgeland, SC 29936 or Lowcountry Presbyterian Church, 10 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton, SC 29910.

Lowcountry Presbyterian Church
19 Simmonsville Road, Bluffton SC 29910

Friends of Caroline Hospice
Web: https://www.fochospice.org/donate