Mary Ellen (Sunny) Boggs Stephenson, 83, passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2017. Born December 11, 1933 to Orville and Marie Boggs, Mary Ellen grew up in Minneapolis attending Academy of the Holy Angels where she received her nickname of "Sunny." She graduated from University of Minnesota where she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. She earned a bachelor's degree in education and minored in theater arts and drama. She married her college sweetheart, the late Henry Clay Stephenson, on August 20, 1955. In 1963, with three children, Sunny and Henry moved to Tampa, Florida. There, Sunny raised the family. She was active in room mom and school volunteer duties. She developed a penchant for gourmet cooking. Through it all, she modeled living her Catholic faith for her children and found joy in making sure they were taught Baltimore Catechism. Her husband died in 2000, and Sunny moved to the Dallas, Texas area. She enjoyed watching her grandsons grow, working crossword puzzles, and socializing with her friends in her senior community. Sunny's greatest fun was in the everyday adventures had with her daughter. Sunny is preceded in death by her elder son, Paul, who awaited her to celebrate Mother's Day in heaven. She is survived by: her daughter, Elizabeth (Liz) Ellis, son-in-law John, grandsons Andrew (wife Alex) and William; son John Michael Stephenson, daughter-in-law Lisa, granddaughter Ashlan and grandson Connor; daughter-in-law Ann (Mrs. Paul) Stephenson, granddaughter Kristen Stephenson-Goodman (husband Shane); and, sister-in-law Alice Stephenson Neibergs. Following a recitation of the rosary at 12:30 in the church, a funeral Mass will celebrate her life on Friday, June 2, 2017 at 1:00 PM at Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 5100 West Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas, 75093. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made as a memorial in Sunny's name to the American Heart Association. You may do so online (for a direct link to Sunny's memorial page go to https://tinyurl.com/SunnySteph); by mailing to the American Heart Association, PO Box 841125, Dallas, Texas 75284-1125; or by calling 800-242-8721. Arrangements are under the direction of ARIA Cremation Service and Funeral Home 19310 Preston Road Dallas, Texas 75252 214-306-6700