Mr. John Billy Stokes

John B. “Billy” Stokes, age 86, of Chandler, formally of Brownsboro, passed away in the mid afternoon hours of Friday, December 16, 2011 at the Chandler Nursing Center in Chandler. He was born on August 14, 1925 in Brownsboro to John S. and Becky Mae Windham Stokes, they preceded him in death.

Billy was a 1943 graduate of Brownsboro High School and immediately upon graduation enlisted in the U.S. Army. Staff Sergeant Stokes was a member of the 104th Timberwolf Infantry Division, 413th Regiment which fought for 197 continuous days through Belgium, Holland, and Germany including the “Battle of the Bulge”. He was awarded the Bronze Star.

After the war, Billy returned to Brownsboro, married, went to business school, raised tomatoes for a living, and then became employed at the Opelika Gas Plant. After a few years there, his employment moved him to Ranger then to the Nipak Plant in Kerens. His involvement in the local union gave him the opportunity to go to work for the AFL/CIO United Steel Workers Union as an international representative serving throughout East Texas and Louisiana until his retirement in 1986.

Billy loved to fish and hunt. His love for quail hunting took him and Murl all over east, west, and south Texas along with his special bird dogs. He was an avid reader on Civil War, WWII, and Texas History with an extensive library.

Billy was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was very proud of his family and spoke often and wrote of the blessings of family. He had a great faith in Jesus and was always happy to speak of his faith with anyone. He was a 50+ year member of Brownsboro Masonic Lodge No. 1050 AM&FM and a member of the First Baptist Church Kerens.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Murl Stokes, of Chandler, formerly of Brownsboro; daughters, Sue Quinn, and husband Larry, of Longview, and Brenda Atkeisson, and husband Buster, of Kerens; grandsons, David Atkeisson, and wife Leah, of Kerens, Brad Atkeisson, and wife Michelle, of Fairfield, Caleb Quinn of Longview, and Jeremy Quinn, and wife Tonia, of Longview; great-granddaughters, Lauren and Kate Atkeisson of Kerens, McKenzie Beddingfield of Fairfield, and Kennedy Quinn of Longview; great-grandson, Cole Beddingfield of Fairfield; sisters, Myrtis Lauterbach and Dell Avant of Las Cruces, New Mexico; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jack and Zeffie Beard of Chandler; cousin, Barbara Fenton of Tyler; and by numerous other nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

He was also preceded in death by an infant brother, Joe.

Services for John B. “Billy” Stokes will be held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, December 18, 2011 at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home with Reverend Frank Upchurch officiating. Burial will follow at Tyler Memorial Cemetery with A.L. “Buster” Atkeisson, Brad Atkeisson, David Atkeisson, Caleb Quinn, Jeremy Quinn, and Larry Quinn serving as pallbearers. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.