LEEDS - Byron Stevens, 59, passed away unexpectedly on April 12, 2010. He was born to Shirley G. Hardy and Byron Clayton Stevens Sr. in Augusta on May 27, 1950. He attended Cony High School in Augusta and joined the Army at AAFES, Portland, in 1967. He was stationed at Camp Howze, South Korea, where he was ranked as a light weapons infantryman; as well as at Fort Kobbe, Canal Zone, training in radio relay and carrier attendant in 1970, before being discharged from Fort Devens, Mass., in 1971. He received a National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Expert Badge and Sharpshooter Badge, and completed training for Code of Conduct, CBR Training and Geneva Convention. Byron had a passion for fishing on an Indian reservation in North Carolina, and enjoyed hunting in the great outdoors of Maine. He was an active member of American Legion Post 40 in Winthrop and had many friends there. He is survived by his daughter, Tracey Stevens-Wheeler, of Gardiner, and her husband, David, and their son, Christopher; a daughter, Stacey Lee Badillo, of Sidney, and her companion, James Decker, and her son, Sebastian, and daughter Sabian; his sisters, Sharon Hardy-Pratt, of Pennsylvania, Sheila Roy, of Florida, and her husband, Glen, Sandra Rice, of Vassalboro, and her husband, Clayton; his stepfather, Clayton Hardy, of Vassalboro; his stepbrothers, Ronald Stevens and Gary Stevens, of North Carolina; his stepsister, Sandy Warren, of North Carolina; as well as many wonderful aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; his special friend and companion, Lorrie Morris, of Leeds; his three German shepherds and a cat. Byron was predeceased by his son, Byron Clayton Stevens III; his natural father, Byron Clayton Stevens Sr.; his mother, Shirley G. Hardy; as well as a special friend, Barbie. Committal services with full military honors will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 22, at the new Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery on Mount Vernon Road in Augusta. A reception will be at American Legion Post 40 in Winthrop. In lieu of flowers, donations for the family may be made to Tracey, Stacey or c/o Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta, ME 04330 to help with funeral costs.