Harold R. Stokes, 83

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Harold Raymond Stokes, 83, of Litchfield, died on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at his residence.

A memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, June 2, at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mr. Stokes was born on July 9, 1939, in East St. Louis, a son of Harold William and Mary Elizabeth (Warren) Stokes.  He married Judy Kay Driscoll on Oct. 29, 1960, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Litchfield.

Mr. Stokes graduated from Litchfield High School with the Class of 1957, and served in the Illinois National Guard.  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 art work, 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 art work was showcased in galleries in Rend Lake, Chicago, Springfield and Dallas, TX, 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 team “the White Sox” in Litchfield.

In addition to his wife, 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 Litchfeld; six grandchildren, Chelsey Stokes, Brady Stokes, Tyler J. “T.J.” Stokes, Colby Stokes, Tyler Sedlacek and Jacob Sedlacek; one great-grandchild, Harlo Stokes; a sister, Linda Lee (Ron) Repp of Staunton; and two nieces, Julie M. (Mike Painter) Repp, of Collinsville, and Jennifer (Chad) Jenkins, of Glen Carbon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Juanita M. Stokes; and great-grandson, Cooper Meadows.

Condolences may be left online at www.plummerfuneralservices.com.