Ruth Maxine Stokes

Ruth Maxine Stokes, age 95, of Booneville, Arkansas passed away Monday, May 29, 2017 in Booneville.

She was born on July 19, 1921 in Malvern, Arkansas to the late Greg Porterfield and the late Esther Ellis Porterfield. Ruth was a work-aholic and was part of the first group of women to work in the lumbermill, in Longview, Washington.  Also one of the first women to be on the tree planting crew with Weyhauseur and the oldest working woman at Tyson plant in Waldron. She loved to hunt and fish and taught Ron how to do these things. Ron says, “that his mother was the greatest cook ever and would cook the most extravagant meals.” She did this because she grew up during the depression. She had a green thumb for raising a garden and never wasted anything, be it through canning or other storage. She was a loving, dedicated mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister and friend to all. She will be dearly missed by all.

She is survived by son, Ronnie Stokes and wife Diane of Charleston, Arkansas; daughter, Kay Lynn Bell of Portland, Oregon; grandsons, Bobby Brown and Brandon Brown; granddaughters, Ronni Jo Stokes of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Megan Stokes Panell and husband Heath of Muldrow, Oklahoma; sister, Dorthy Mitchell of Longview, Texas; fifteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Mrs. Stokes was preceded in death by her parents Greg and Esther Porterfield, daughter, Carol BigEagle, two brothers, her husband, Joe “Kalb” Stokes, and a grandchild.

Graveside service will be Wednesday June 7, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Lockesburg, Arkansas under the direction of the Beasley Wood Funeral Home of Mena.

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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