Esther Eunice Stokes

Esther Eunice Stokes passed away peacefully the morning of March 3, 2021, in Sugar Land, Texas, at the age of 85. Esther was born in Van Meter, Iowa on the 22nd of February 1936 to the late Gustaf A. Johnson and Helen C. Johnson. On July 2, 1953 she married the love of her life, the late Blaine Leslie Stokes of Nashville, Tennessee in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

Esther was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, as well as a loyal and devoted military wife who was the anchor for her family in a life of constant change and sacrifice. Esther worked many jobs through the years, but she was most proud of working with children. She spent many years providing childcare to her own grandchildren, as well as the children of neighbors and friends. Some say she was the baby whisperer especially when it came to potty training. Esther was also very devoted to charity work wherever her life took her. Her last years spent working at with the West Houston Hospital Auxiliary. Esther, being the devoted daughter even after her parents died, received her GED at the age of 40 because she promised her parents that she would graduate from High School. Esther’s happy place was anywhere family was. She loved cooking big family meals, followed by intense games of Phase 10 or Scrabble. She was very competitive whether competing against her children, grandchildren, or anyone else invited to sit around her table.

She and her husband were members of Mission Bend Church of Christ, where they were a constant presence and loved by all. Esther had an undeterred love for Christ.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Blaine, her grandson Mark Stokes, Jr., her granddaughter Ashton Glover, as well as many other beloved family members.

Esther is survived by her children Mark & Vanessa Stokes, John & Patricia Stokes, Bill & Barbara Stokes, and Cindy Stokes Baker; her grandchildren, Michael & Yilan Stokes, Rebecca & Ben Eckstein, Christopher & Stacey Stokes, Shane & Erin Stokes, Nathan & Marie Stokes, Terica & Doug Starr, Beau & Mikaylie Baker, Chase Stokes, Blake & Arabella Stokes, Cody Baker, Quinn Stokes, and Ryan Rodriguez; and her great grandchildren: Jaiden, Emery, and Jaxon Baker, Lily and Evan Baker, Brandon, Savannah, and Paisley Stokes, Harper, Marlowe, Owen, and Zoey Eckstein, Michael Stokes, Jr. and Kaylee, Knox and Hank Starr; her brother Paul Johnson and his wife Beverly, sister-in-law’s Carol Johnson, Mindy Stokes, Virginia Stokes, and various other family members that she loved so very much.

Visitation will be held from 11:00 to 12:00, followed by the memorial service at 12:00 on Sunday, March 14th at Forest Park Funeral Home, 12800 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas; followed with a graveside service at Woodlawn Garden of Memories, 8010 Katy Frwy, Houston, Texas.

Pallbearers: Christopher Stokes, Nathan Stokes, Beau Baker, Cody Baker, Shane Stokes, and Quinn Stokes

Honorary Pallbearers: Michael Stokes, Chase Stokes, Blake Stokes, and Ryan Rodriguez