Rosa's service will be available as a Zoom Meeting at 1:00 p.m., March
9, 2022. Anyone who wishes to may join the meeting. It must be viewed at
this time because it won't be recorded for viewing later. The Zoom
meeting information is:
844 4645 8584
778062
Rosa Lee Stokes, 97, died in Hays, Kansas, March 1, 2022. She was
born April 18, 1924, to Schuyler and Mary (Cannon) Jones in Rural Graham
County, Kansas. She grew up with 12 brothers and sisters. In October 1969, Rosa married Oliver Stokes in Denver, Colorado.
Rosa loved gardening, cooking, quilting, sewing, and taking care
of others. She was an extremely hard worker. She was an assertive,
strong-willed loving soul. When Rosa spoke, everyone listened! She had
no problem speaking her mind. But then she would turn right around and
nurture you.
Everything Rosa cooked (fried chicken, deep fried turkey, deep
fried catfish, fresh pies, yummy cobblers, homemade ice cream; the list
goes on and on!) All of it was made with so much love. Even if you
didn’t want to eat you had to, because you never wanted to disappoint
Rosa. And, with bellies full she’d give you more!
There are so many memories of life around Rosa, but here are a few.
Terry and Kim Ryines recalled a time when they, their children as
well as other young ones and family members, visited Aunt Rosa at her
home in Nicodemus. They decided to deep fry a turkey and catfish. Rosa
deep fried the turkey first with all it’s seasonings and then the
catfish. Cousin Thomas said prior to eating Rosa’s catfish that he
didn’t like catfish. Well, after eating at least four pieces of that
catfish, he declared, “Well, I guess I like catfish now!”
Another wonderful memory of Rosa involved go-carts. Terry and Kim
thought of a time when they took go-carts to Aunt Rosa’s home for the
little kids. Rosa said she hated those go-carts. She called them,
“Do-do Bugs." But after a while…there goes Rosa driving on of those
“Do-do Bugs” and having a ball! But that’s not all. The kids drove
those go-carts down into the town of Nicodemus. Well, the town Sheriff
(Freddie Switzer) pulled them over and gave them flags and badges. He
made them honorary deputies! After which they stopped by every house in
town and introduced themselves as the new deputies in town! Aunt
Shirley has fond memories of the times that she and Aunt Ethel
(affectionately referred to as the twins by Rosa) worked as waitresses
for Rosa at the Nicodemus restaurant. She recalls all the laughter,
the good times, and the mischievousness that went on. Sometimes until
5:00 A.M., and, oh how they terrorized Sheriff Switzer!
Rosa was a true matriarch for the family. She brought generations
together. The younger generations were made to feel comfortable and
loved around Rosa. And, you’d better not come to Kansas without
visiting Rosa!
She loved Jehovah God and His Son Jesus Christ! And, following in
the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ, she would feed anyone and
everyone.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Oliver;
siblings: Freeman, Lawrence, Kenneth, Helen, Elizabeth, Alta, Oletha and
Margaret.
Rosa is survived by her daughter, Norma Lois Willis of Garden
Grove, California; four grandchildren: Vanessa, Margo, Rayford and
Karrita; nine great grandchildren: Rochelle, Raquel, Tiara, Timmara,
Joel, Latifah, Azia, Kiara and Jahquon; nine great-great grandchildren;
as well as many, many nieces and nephews. Her surviving siblings are:
Justina Johnson of Houston, Texas, Ethel Johnson of Kansas City,
Missouri, Francis Jones of Hill City, Shirley Ryines of Colorado
Springs, Colorado.
All Loving Her Very Dearly!
Click HERE for service details.