Marcella Colbert Stokes

Carmel ~ Marcella C. Stokes passed away April 7 in Monterey. Born in Covington, Kentucky, she moved with her parents to Riverside, California in 1941. Marcella was valedictorian of her class at Riverside Community College and completed her Bachelor’s in Art History at the University of California at Riverside.

Marcella and her husband, Richard J. Stokes, lived in Riverside until his retirement. In 1976, the couple moved to Carmel Highlands, drawn to its natural beauty and art culture. There they worked on their new home, traveled and participated in community organizations. Richard died in 1994.

Marcella was a member of the Docent Council of the Monterey Museum of Art for many years. She also was a member of the Oriental Art Society, Ikebana International, Asian Art Museum, Metropolitan Museum, World Affairs Council, and the Gentrain Society of Monterey Peninsula College.

An intrepid world traveler, Marcella made several trips to achieve a lifelong goal of traversing the fabled ‘Silk Road’ trade routes, visiting many Central Asian locales little-known to tourists.

Marcella is survived by her wonderful friends and neighbors in Carmel; her nephew, Christopher (Mary) Stokes of Woodland and nieces, Jennifer (Bob) Burns of Santa Barbara and Bridget Stokes of San Rafael. Her family and friends will miss her joie de vivre, her wit and intellect and the fierce independence with which she lived her life.

Private family services will be held.