Bill Stokes

CAIRO, Ill. -- William R. "Bill" Stokes, 87, died at 5 a.m. Aug. 31, 2012, at the home of his son and daughter-in-law in Charleston, Mo.

Born June 5, 1925, at Pulaski, to the late William Roy and Mary Schaefer Stokes Sr., he was a retired sales representative for Nabisco, Inc., in Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri and was employed at the Barkett Funeral Homes in Cairo, Mounds and Mound City from 1992 until 2011. He was a member and deacon of the First Southern Baptist Church, past president of the Cairo Rotary Club and was a veteran of World War II.

He married Edwina "Winnie" Sullivan who preceded him in death.

He was also preceded in death by three sisters and one brother.

Survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, Kerry and Linda Stokes of Charleston; one brother, Wendell Stokes of Pulaski; and five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Services were conducted Monday at the First Southern Baptist Church in Cairo with the Rev. Bill Gholson officiating.

Burial followed in Rose Hill Cemetery in Pulaski.

The Barkett Funeral Home in Cairo was in charge of arrangements. Local obituary courtesy of the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.