Notes:

Obituary:

Robert L. Stokes, "Big Robert", as he was known by family and friends, died peacefully Sunday morning, Oct. 5, 2014, at the The Hospice of East Texas in Tyler. Services will be held on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Jay Lockhart officiating.

Burial will be in Cathedral in the Pines under direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.

Robert was a member of West Erwin Church of Christ and Gladewater Ex-students Association. He was born on Aug. 4, 1927, in Gladewater to Charlie and Wardie Stokes. After graduation from Gladewater High School, he joined the Merchant Marine. Completion of service found him traveling to Houston to attend mortuary school where he became the youngest certified mortician in the state of Texas. His 1944 marriage to Patricia Ann Cloud produced three daughters, Jann, Ann and Isha. In 1955, he began his career in the oil service industry with Haliburton, Welex, Trainer Surveys and Go Wireline Services.

In 1963, he moved the family to Luling and started a wireline service company, which he sold in 1978. "Big Robert" and Patsy then moved back to Tyler to start Heritage Wireline Services with his son-in-law, Paul Myrick.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Patricia Cloud Stokes; parents, Charlie and Wardie Stokes; and brothers, Jack and Norman Stokes.

Survivors include daughters, Jann Bogenschutz Salyer and husband Fred, of Longview, Ann Binford and husband Weston, of Austin, and Isha Myrick and husband Paul, of Tyler; grandchildren, Jennifer Diaz and husband Chaco, Jena Darrah and husband Nick, Jared Bogenschutz and wife Tina, Trey Binford and wife Lale, Jason Binford and wife Lauren, Amber Denny and husband Matt, Justin Binford, Tyler Binford, Kristi Wiggins and husband Curtis, Angie Daughtry and husband Brad, Cindy Myrick, Robert Myrick and wife Kelly and Paul Wesley Myrick and wife Elizabeth; 23 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law, David Knotts, of Shreveport, La., and George Cloud, of Lake Devernia; special friends and caretakers, Edward Reese, Ronnie Calloway and Darlene Cook; numerous nieces and nephews; and hundreds of friends.

A special thank you goes to the staff on 3wc at ETMC and The Hospice of East Texas HomePlace.

Robert loved his family and never met a stranger. We will miss hearing his whistling, his beautiful singing, the special little things he did for each one of us, the wonderful pickles he made, his special Christmas books and his red socks. We love you. God now has a very special angel.

Grandsons Jared Bogenschutz, Trey Binford, Jason Binford, Justin Binford, Tyler Binford, Robert Myrick, Paul Wesley Myrick, Curtis Wiggins and Brad Daughtry will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, Tyler, 75701.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to one of Robert's favorite charities: The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler 75701; Christian Homes and Family Services, 5476 Hollytree Drive, Tyler, 75703; or West Erwin Church of Christ Benevolence Center, 420 W. Erwin St., Tyler, 75702.

(Tyler Morning Telegraph, October 8, 2014)

Robert married Patricia Ann Cloud 24 Nov 1946, Longview, Gregg County, Texas, USA. Patricia (daughter of Sam Cloud and Isha Mary Adkins) was born 31 Jan 1927, Cotton Valley, Webster Parish, Louisiana, USA; died 1 Jul 2006, Tyler, Smith County, Texas, USA; was buried 3 Jul 2006, Cathedral in the Pines Cemetery - Tyler, Texas, USA. [Group Sheet]

1. L.J. Stokes
2. P.A. Stokes
3. I.M. Stokes