Rosa Lee Stokes

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!