Lenora Sears, also known as Nora, was the eldest daughter of ten children born to Thomas Marion Sears and Ida Jane Speak. Being the eldest daughter she was expected to learn at a young age the typical household chores of the women of her day and worked as a maid for the Ketchum family. She also attended Berry School near the Concord Church in Putnam County. At the age of 17 her father passed away and her ability to work helped her mother raise the family. She worked as a maid for her Aunt Betty Conger who had suffered a stroke and made $2.50 a week, using much of that money to help her mother and siblings. While working for her aunt, she met her future husband Calvin Otto Stevens.

After eighteen months of courtship, they were married 27 Jun 1905. At first they lived with Calvin's mother Elizabeth, but soon moved to Udell and started a family. Over the next twenty-two years ten children would be born to them; Mabel Margaret, Bertha Leveta, Gerald B (died as an infant), Gladys May, Agnes Irene, Calvin Wesley, Ida Lucille, Otto Laverne, Dwight Eugene, and Dale Dean. During this time Calvin worked as a barber, farmer, operated a dairy farm, and finally as a coal miner.

Disaster struck the family in December of 1930. Calvin, while working for the McConville Mine Company, was removing a prop in front of the mining machine when a bat above the machine fell, crushing and breaking his pelvis. He was rushed to the hospital but died from his injuries the next day. He left behind his wife to care for their seven children still at home.

The family pulled together. Her daughter Bertha and her husband Guy moved in with her while her eldest son Wes farmed in the mornings and evenings while still going to school. With her pension from the mine, Lenora bought a house in Centerville, the last place she would own. Her youngest children had many fond memories of that place.

Her family continued to expand and grow. As her children moved out and started families of their own, her later years took its toll. She took turns living with her various children and their families. It was during one of these stays with her daughter Gladys that she suffered a paralyzing stroke. After a short stay in the hospital, she returned to Gladys's home but another series of strokes ended the life of this sweet and kind woman who was dearly missed by her children.

Upon her death Lenora joined her parents, her sons Gerald and Wesley, and her husband Calvin in eternal rest. She was survived by nine children, many grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.