Laura Stokes

Laura was born on March 1, 1938 in rural Dunlap to Louis and Esther (Hauk) Hoffman. She married Russell C. Stokes on June 9, 1984 in Chillicothe, IL.

Laura received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Illinois State University and was a Teacher for the Edelstein School District and later for the Princeville School District retiring in 1997. She was a life member of the national, state and local education associations, the Illinois, International, and Illinois Valley Reading Councils. After she retired, she became a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association and the Kickapoo Home Extension Association. Laura was also a member of First Federated Church in Peoria.

Surviving are her husband; her children, Jonathan McGhee of Peoria, IL, Julia (Marc) Lowe of Dunlap, IL, Andrew (Julene Hahn-Stokes) Stokes of Wausau, WI and Lisa Stokes-Tadie of Winona, MN; and her grandchildren, Joseph Tadie, Madison Lowe, Trevor Stokes, Finbar Tadie, Auguste Tadie, and Ethan Stokes. She is also survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Warren (Sandy) Hoffman of Dunlap, IL, one brother-in-law, Gary Phillips of E. Moline, IL; numerous nieces and nephews; and her students. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Glen Hoffman; and two sisters, Lois Phillips and Gladys (Ralph) Nibbelin.

Services will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 11:30am at Davison-Fulton Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria with visitation beginning at 9:30am. Rev. Stephen Barch will be officiating. Burial will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria. Being that she was a recipient of a kidney transplant, Laura wanted memorials to go to the National Kidney Association or Illinois Cancer Care.