Verdus Ray Stokes

Verdus Ray Stokes, 80, of Anna, died at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, with his loved ones at his side.

Mr. Stokes was born on June 9, 1929, near Lick Creek, the son of Verdus O. and Pauline Gurley Stokes.

He married Betsie Ross Hankla on July 8, 1950, at Ebenezer Hall Church at Lick Creek. They were married for 59 years.

He is survived by his wife, Betsie of Anna; one son, Darrell (Brenda) Stokes of Anna; three grandsons, Brandon, Justin and Nathan Stokes, all of Anna; one aunt, Afton Gurley of Salem; cousins Valetta Gurley Stoner of Anna and Myra Gurley Bowen of Lick Creek; brothers-in-law Joseph (Viola) Hankla of Anna, Robert Wayne (Charlotte) Hankla of Highland, Ind., Harold Dean Hankla of Anna and Richard (Joyce) Hankla of Decatur, Ala.; sisters-in-law Juanita Hankla Mays Daume of Jackson, Mo., and Martha Hankla Williams Warr of Christianburg, Va.; a special friend, Michael Bledsoe; caregivers Vikki Savitz and Sandy Moore; many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Verdus and Pauline Stokes.

He was a member of the First Christian Church of Anna, where he served as a deacon and sang in the choir. He like music and was a vocalist, who sang in various quartets and performed many solos. He retired in 1987 from Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna after 37 1/2 years as an activity therapist.

Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at First Christian Church in Anna with Dee Arms, Bill Littrell and Gene Crosser officiating. Interment was in the Anna Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to the First Christian Church of Anna or to Hospice of Southern Illinois.

Rendleman & Hileman Funeral Home in Anna was in charge of arrangements.