Irving Eugene Stevenson

Irving Eugene Stevenson, 71of Carmichael, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on July 29, 2020. He fought a strong 12 month battle with pancreatic cancer, but ultimately the cancer was too much to fight any longer. He was born February 6, 1949 to Merrill and Olga Stevenson, and grew up in Sacramento/Carmichael, CA. Irv was a legendary story teller. He told so many stories of his youth where he and his siblings ran as a pack and creating havoc for their parents. The fire department might have been called out a few times due to their activates in the neighborhood. His stories left his audience laughing and waiting to hear another, and there were always more. Irv is predeceased in death by his father Merrill Stevenson, his mother Olga Stevenson, and his brother Douglas Stevenson. He attended La Sierra Highschool, class of 1967, and then served his country as a Marine during the Vietnam War. While in Vietnam, Irv served as a front line Radio Field Operator. In 1971 he married the love of his life Rita Sorensen, and together their built their lives and filled their home with 4 amazing children. Irv worked beside his father as a baker in the family business and later accepted ownership, Drakes Pastries was a iconic bakery in the Sacramento area for over 50 years. While he was a talented baker, his passion was construction. Irv was diligent in learning construction and carpentry, and became a general contractor. He would work early hours at the bakery and then spend countless hours durning the day building houses. His passion for construction led him through life building homes and working with people to make improvements to their houses. Irv is survived by his wife Rita Sorensen Stevenson and their children Pamela (Michael) Sullivan of North Carolina, Lynn (Darren) Wilson of North Carolina, Suzanne (Robert) Capestro of California, and Daniel (Janelle) Stevenson of California, grandchildren Madeline Sullivan, Braden Sullivan, Marin Sullivan, Abby Wilson, Sadie Wilson, Brandon Capestro and Dylan Capestro, and his siblings Diane Avilla, Merrill Stevenson, and Dorothy Tizi.