WILLIAM EARNEST STOKES

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WILLIAM (BILL) EARNEST STOKES June 4, 1936 - December 3, 2016 It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend Bill Stokes Sr. Bill went peacefully in his sleep, at home, the morning of December 3, 2016. Bill was predeceased by his loving wife of 57 years, Mary Lou Stokes (nee Jacklin), his parents Helen and Harold Stokes, brothers George and Robert Stokes, and nephew Thomas Stokes. Left behind to mourn his loss are his children Bill Jr. (Kim), Doug (Myrna), Karen (Jeff), brother Chuck (Lynne), sister-in-law Betty, brother-in-law Grant, and best friend Sylvia Burdey. Also left to mourn his loss are his grandchildren Chasity (Shawn), Trevor (Krystal), Tyler (Sheila), Chris (Chelsea), Troy (Jayleen), Jordan, and Victoria; great-grandchildren Josh (Bobbie-Jean), Jeffrey, Alena, Jeremy, Cynthia, Braeden, Pamela, Jared, Logan, Dylan, Avery and Mason; nephews Scott and Dan (Dana), niece Tanis, and cousins and friends. Bill attended elementary at Pinkham School, junior high at Hugh John MacDonald, and high school at Daniel McIntyre. Shortly after high school Bill and Mary Lou were married in Winnipeg on February 1, 1957. They had 57 years of love before Mary Lou passed in January 2014. They were very fond of looking around the room at family gatherings and saying "look at this great big mess we created!" Bill's family was his greatest accomplishment and source of pride. Bill spent 27 wonderful years vacationing to various tropical places with his wife Mary Lou, brother George, sister-in-law Betty, and friend Sylvia. Bill enjoyed BBQs, Christmas and New Year's Eve parties, wine and cheese parties, crib tournaments, darts tournaments, pool league, and dancing the night away at the ANAF John Osborne #1 Club where they were members for over 50 years. When not vacationing or at the club Bill could always be found at a sporting event, school play, or choir performance for one of his grandchildren. One of his favourite pastimes was being his son Doug's biggest hockey groupie; following his various MJHL Junior A Teams wherever the travels took them. Whether it was Selkirk, Winkler, Portage, Neepawa, or Dauphin there were many happy times driving to those games singing show tunes in the car. There was also many a trip on the team bus. Bill loved spending time with his grandchildren at the Bombers games, Goldeyes games and Jets Games. He also loved the many family dinners and BBQs we used to gather for. Bill loved gathering around the piano for sing songs and loved music. The old crooners were his favourite. Bill was an avid sports lover both enjoying as a spectator and player. Bill loved his Winnipeg Blue Bombers and watching NFL and NHL games. He curled as a skip for many years at the Civic Caledonian Curling Club and was a Past President there. He coached, managed and umpired in Senior Men's Baseball. He loved golfing. As a youngster he played football as the quarterback for the Daniel McIntyre Maroons and played baseball. Bill worked for 32 years for the Royal Bank of Canada as a Mechanical Engineer, and for 15 years before that at Oxford Leasing. Bill also spent several years working for the CN Railroad. Bill was the greatest father and grandfather anyone could ever wish for; because of him, the lessons he taught and the love he gave, we know who we are and where we come from, and that we were greatly loved. The family would like to take a moment to say a special thank you to his daughter Karen James for all her hard work on behalf of the whole family caring for Bill the last three years. We would also like to give special thanks to friend Sylvia Burdey for her companionship over the last three years specifically since Mary Lou passed on, but for her friendship over the past 50 years to both of them. The family would like to extend an invitation to all to join us in a celebration of Bill's life on Wednesday, December 14 at 1:00 p.m. at the ANAF John Osborne #1 located at 300-1395 Ellice Ave. Luncheon to follow. The family will also be planning a "Happy Hour" at the ANAF John Osborne #1 on a upcoming Saturday in January for all his friends that are away on the Seniors Club trip next week. We have not forgotten about you all and want to give you the opportunity to celebrate Bill's life as well with us. Please watch for postings at the club for when that will be and Heather Merrick will be able to relay the information for those plans. In lieu of flowers, we would be grateful for donations made in Bill's name to go to either CancerCare Manitoba or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. As Bill's favourite singer "Old Blue Eyes" would say "I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places...until we meet again...good bye and good night." We will be missing you and loving you always. Xoxoxoxox

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 10, 2016