OLATHE — In a sunlit apartment-turned-art-studio tucked within the Santa Marta senior living community here, 99-year-old Jerry Stephenson sits surrounded by vibrant acrylic paintings, delicate pencil sketches, and shelves lined with poetry books he authored himself. A lifelong learner, Stephenson didn’t begin painting until his late 80s . . . and he hasn’t stopped since.
“I get so into it, I forget to eat,” he jokes, brushing his fingers across the edge of a painting. “I never had time before. Now, I have plenty of it — and I’m not wasting it.”
Stephenson’s journey into art began after moving to Santa Marta, the Catholic senior living and care center, in 2010. Encouraged by a fellow resident, he picked up a brush for the first time in decades. A former pheasant hunter and world traveler, Stephenson often paints from memory — his canvases capturing scenes like pheasant hunts in the Midwest or riding an elephant in India during his service in World War II.
“My wife Mary Ellen loved irises, so I paint those the most,” he said, eyes softening as he gestured to a series of purple blooms. They were married for 73 years before her passing in 2021. “She’s still with me in every brushstroke.”
Painting isn’t Stephenson’s only creative outlet. He’s also authored an autobiography and more than 100 poems, many celebrating life’s joys, struggles and surprises. His daughters had the collection professionally bound as a family keepsake.
“They thought I sounded like a poet,” he said, smiling. “So I kept writing.”
While Stephenson is proud of his creative work, he’s also clear about what he hopes it represents. “I didn’t know I could do this until I tried. A lot of people have hidden abilities, they just don’t give themselves the chance. It’s never too late to surprise yourself.”
Stephenson will celebrate his 100th birthday this November in Denver with his family — four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a growing club of admirers who now include Santa Marta staff, neighbors and everyone who’s been lucky enough to visit his gallery.
He recently mentioned wanting an aquarium — partly for the tranquility, but mostly for the inspiration.
“I’m always looking for new subjects,” he said cheerfully.
