Obituaries
Death of Harold Raymond Stokes
Harold Raymond Stokes, 83 of Litchfield, passed away at his residence on Saturday, May 27, 2023. He was born in East St. Louis on July 9, 1939, a son of Harold William and Mary Elizabeth (Warren) Stokes.
He graduated from Litchfield High School with the Class of 1957 and served in the Illinois National Guard. Mr. Stokes and the former Judy Kay Driscoll were married on October 29, 1960, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Litchfield. She survives.
He was employed for 26 years with International Paper Company/Consumer Plastics as an Art Coordinator in the packaging division. After International Paper closed, he worked with his father, Harold W. Stokes, in the family insurance business.
Mr. Stokes also worked as a commercial artist doing all kinds of artwork, including logos, advertising, sign painting and graphics work for businesses. When the House of Sunshine was built in Sunshine Park, Mr. Stokes was hired to paint the graphics above the windows and eaves. While he had no formal art training and developed his skills through a four-year correspondence program and weekly tutoring from a retired art professor, he became a successful artist. Mr. Stokes received numerous “best of shows” at local and county art shows and various awards for his sports-oriented works, many of which were published in Beckett Sports Magazine. His artwork was showcased in galleries in Rend Lake, Chicago, Springfield and Dallas, Texas, and he even had two of his portrait paintings of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson displayed in Washington, D.C. Mr. Stokes also greatly enjoyed teaching his own many art students over the years.
Mr. Stokes was an avid fan of both the Chicago Bears football and the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball teams. He coached the little league baseball White Sox team of Litchfield.
In addition to his wife, Judy, Mr. Stokes is survived by three sons, Andrew W. (fiancée Athena Sedlacek) Stokes of Litchfield, Matthew M. Stokes of Hillsboro, and Robert B. Stokes of Litchfield; six grandchildren, Chelsey Stokes, Brady Stokes, Tyler J. “T.J.” Stokes, Colby Stokes, Tyler Sedlacek, and Jacob Sedlacek; one great-grandchild, Harlo Stokes; sister, Linda Lee (Ron) Repp of Staunton; and two nieces, Julie M. (Mike Painter) Repp of Collinsville and Jennifer (Chad) Jenkins of Glen Carbon.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Stokes was preceded in death by his step-mother, Juanita M. Stokes; and great-grandson, Cooper Meadows.
A memorial visitation for Mr. Stokes will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 2, 2023, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield.
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Lois Ilaine Erspamer Sawyer, 94 of Gillespie, died at her residence on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 9:51 am. She was born on February 9, 1930, in Gillespie to Louis Poi and Bertha Annetta Sunman Poi Lewis.
She married John Peter Erspamer on September 4, 1950. He preceded her in death on November 24, 1989. She married Dempsey Sawyer on May 15, 1993, and he preceded her in death in 2016. She had been a bookkeeper for Duracraft and Daley’s Chevrolet. Lois enjoyed reading, gardening, painting, drawing, cooking, traveling, bird watching, adventures, her family and her beloved cat, Molly.
She is survived by her children, Ann (Timm) LaRoche of Gillespie, Joan (Paul) Alexander of Gillespie, and Lynn Erspamer of Litchfield; grandchildren, Shannon (David) Wright of Gillespie, Suzanne (companion, Josh) DeMartini of Madisonville, KY, Jared (Amanda) Johnson of Staunton, Adam (Ashli) Alexander of Gillespie, Travis (Laura) Mize of Dallas, TX, Britini Bernardini of Nokomis, and Marissa (Jacob) Summers of Litchfield; great grandchildren, Macie, Isabel and Alexander Wright, Joseph and Gino DeMartini, Brianna Johnson, Ansley Alexander, Lucas and Jeffrey Bernardini, Fisher, Sabrina and Gabriella Crow; great great grandchild, Dominic Joseph “DJ” DeMartini; sisters, Patricia Thompson of Carmel, IN, Phyllis Dodd of Pooler, GA, and Marion Boston of Springfield; and brothers, Ernie Lewis of Carbondale and Fred Lewis of Ft Meyers, FL.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, spouses, and brother, John Lewis.
Private services will be held. Kravanya Funeral Home, Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
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