Ruth Jeanne Stokes

Ruth Jeanne (Jarvis) Stokes, age 99, of Stewart, TN, passed away December 25, 2024. Ruth was born September 24, 1925 in Haileyville, OK, to Thorne Hamilton Jarvis & Ruth Taylor Jarvis. In addition to her parents, she is now reunited in heaven with her husband of 76 years, Dwight Thurlow Stokes, her brother Charles Edward Jarvis, and her sister Betty Jarvis Hoshell.

Ruth met Dwight in the small Midwest town of Princeville, Illinois. They attended the local school and were involved in the Presbyterian Youth group and church choir. After her high school graduation, she entered Nurse’s Training in Iowa City, IA. Dwight’s college career was interrupted by WW2 when he was recruited to serve with the US Army, European Theatre. Although victory was declared in Europe, the war against Japan continued. He was to be deployed to the Pacific front after a 3 week leave stateside, so a wedding was hurriedly scheduled and they were married on August 23, 1945. By God’s grace, the war ended during that 3 week leave and they were free to begin their lives together. While Dwight finished college and began his teaching career, Ruth worked a variety of jobs until 1948 when the first of their children was born. Her career became homemaker, a job which was a delight to her, and a second child was born in 1952. As the children grew older and matured, she returned to the workforce as a highly skilled legal secretary. Nevertheless, the family was still the focus of her life, and domestic skills and pastimes were the most valuable to her. In the framework of family life, she gardened, canned, sewed, participated in church activities, and became an avid camper.

When the children were grown and gone from home, she and Dwight took the opportunity to relocate to a place they had loved to camp, Stewart County, TN. They purchased land, built a house, and established a life on the farm. During this stretch of time, her grandchildren began to arrive. She delighted in them and spent countless hours enriching their lives with her love. Because she was an accomplished seamstress, the babies and toddlers were always dressed in handmade smocked items or special articles of clothing. It became tradition for her, as Grandma, to host all the family birthday dinners. Special treats were available on any average day…things like homemade bread, elderberry jelly, and her famous A to Z bread. Christmas brought her specialty … homemade peanut brittle, which she gifted to each individual family member. This Christmas was no exception. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, she made 24 batches to have enough for everyone.

She was kind and loving with such a warmth about her that she was instantly considered a treasure to anyone who met her. Her faith was steadfast, genuine and personal to her. It shone brightly as she demonstrated and extended the love of Jesus to others with her ever cheerful demeanor and fervent prayers for those she loved.

Ruth is survived by her daughter Linda Stokes Watters & Chris (Stewart, TN) and son Greg Stokes (Kewanee, IL). Her grandchildren include Rebecca Watters (Nashville, TN), Kathryn Watters Van Fleet (Lexington, KY), Adam Watters & Joyce (Stewart, TN), Melissa Watters Cavallini & Kent (Stewart, TN), Ethan Watters & Mandy (Maryville, TN), Julia Watters Wilson & Chris (Martin, TN), Lydia Watters Justo & Kenon (Louisville, KY), Annie Rusk (Kewanee, IL) and Robin Morrell (Jay, FL). She delighted in her fourteen great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, December 30, 2024 at Dyers Creek Church, located at 970 HWY 79, Dover, TN 37058. The Stokes family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the hour of service Monday afternoon at the church. Burial will be held privately in the Stokes Family Cemetery, Green Cathedral.

Memorial contributions may be made to Leatherwood Asbury Church, designated for missions, 2912 Leatherwood Rd, Stewart, Tn 37175.

Arrangements are in the care of Nave Funeral Home, (931) 289-4277, NaveFuneralHomes.com