Vernon Dee Stokes

Services will be livestreaming at: https://vimeo.com/event/4588794

Vernon Dee Stokes (85) of Midland, entered the presence of his Savior and was reunited with his daughters on September 14, 2024.  He was born on January 1, 1939, in Arch, New Mexico, to Scott Smith Stokes and Alma Rachel Copeland Stokes.

He lived his early years in eastern New Mexico, and the family relocated to Sundown, Texas, where his father worked in the oilfield.  Vernon graduated from Sundown High School in 1955 and went to college at Wayland Baptist College where he graduated in 1959.

While at Wayland, he met and married the love of his life, Belva Ramsey, on November 1, 1958. They welcomed their daughter, Shelly, on their first wedding anniversary, and over the next 9 years, added Shane, Shauna, and Shannon.

Vernon’s career in public education spanned 40 years.  He was first a classroom teacher and coach, then a high school administrator.  He received his Master’s Degree in 1966, and his doctorate in Education from Texas Tech in 1970.  He worked as a consultant at West Texas Education Center (later Region 18 Education Service Center), then served as Assistant Superintendent for Burleson ISD.  He and Belva returned to Midland in 1981, where he was Deputy Director, then Executive Director of Region 18, retiring in 1996.  He was almost immediately called out of retirement to serve as Interim Superintendent of Ector County ISD, and he finished his years in public education in 2001 as Superintendent of Schools at Ector County ISD.

Vernon’s commitment to higher education was lived out through his lifelong support of Wayland Baptist University.  He served on the Board of Trustees for 19 years and chaired the Board for three years.

Vernon served the Lord faithfully through his work, his home, and his church.  He led music and served in other staff positions in numerous churches beginning when he was a teenager and continuing throughout his life.  He was the consummate Sunday School teacher, having taught Sunday school for more than 60 years.  He served in numerous Baptist churches as a deacon, on numerous committees, and in Texas Baptist leadership rolls on the Christian Education Coordinating Board.

Vernon’s life was dedicated to being a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.  He cherished all of those roles.  He is survived by Belva, his wife of almost 66 years, his sons, Shane (Kim) Stokes, Shannon (Kimberly) Stokes, sons-in-law Eric Coll (Kelly), and Brian Sanderson (Kim), 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, four sisters, and countless others who loved him.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his daughters, Shelly Stokes Coll and Shauna Stokes Sanderson, and one great-granddaughter.

There will be a memorial service in the Worship Center at First Baptist Church at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, September 20, 2024.  There will be a visitation at the home of Shane and Kim Stokes on Thursday, September 19, from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., 1424 Lanham.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be given to The First Baptist Church Ezekiel Department Benevolence Fund, InStep Ministry (www.instep-USA.com), or the Stokes Endowed Scholarships at Wayland Baptist University.  (www.wbu.edu).

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.

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