Mrs. Ora (Banks) Stokes passed away at Elm Croft assisted living on January 5, 2011.
Mrs. Stokes had been dealing with several age related issues for some time, but her determination and positive spirit was encouraging to others.
Ora was born in Letcher County Kentucky on August 4, 1917, the second daughter of Lee and Bertha Banks. She was from a large family, but she is only survived by one sibling, Cuna Mae Banks, from her childhood family. Ora was married to Arnold F. Stokes who died in 1983; they were married in 1948, meeting shortly after WW II. Arnold was a veteran serving in the U.S. Army, and Ora was a W.A.C. during WW II as well.
She is survived by two children, Deborah S. Lare, husband, Bruce Lare (Muncie), and Joseph L. Stokes, wife, Linda (Sarasota-Bradenton, FL). She has two grand children, Andrew B. Stokes (wife, Lili) and Jennifer L. Best (husband, Brian). Andy and Lili have a great-grandson, Sammy, and Jenny and Brian have great-grandchildren Jonah, Josie, Grayson and Linley.
Anyone that knew Ora quickly realized family was first with her in good times or bad. She viewed life in simple ways: faith in Christ, be honest, honor your family, and be determined to appreciate others. She was always considerate of the comfort of others and entering her home meant you had to be served something to eat. She was faithful at church when in good health most recently attending the Gethsemane United Methodist Church.
She was able to be in her home until January of 2010 with her sister, Cuna, and she was proud of being independent. She often would say, "I can see. I can hear, and I can walk. I'm not like a lot of others." She did not worry about money, and she always felt God provided the needs of His children. Ora fed every creature in her neighborhood; they were no less of a guest to her residence, but of all of God's creatures the Cardinal was her favorite. She loved pictures and figurines of the beautiful, red cardinal; seeing one will forever remind us of her.
Her family is saddened to lose a mother, grandmother, and sister, but we know she would look at God's grace for a future reunion with her loved ones in Heaven. Life is best lived with a half full cup, and be glad "You can see; you can hear, and you can walk."
Services will be held 12:00 p.m. Saturday, January 15, 2011 at The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel, with Pastors Woody and Emily Sears officiating. Burial will be in Gardens of Memory Cemetery, north of Muncie.
Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at the mortuary.