Billy John Stokes was born on April 16, 1931 to Paul Wesley Stokes and Ruby Irene (Jacoby) Stokes. He went home to be with his Lord and Savior on June 16, 2016. Graveside services will be on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Robberson Prairie Cemetery near Ebenezer, Missouri.

He was raised in Ebenezer and graduated from Pleasant Hope High School in 1949. He married Connie Britton in 1950 in Harrison, Arkansas. Bill always said he married her for her money because she had $20.00 in her purse. He was a good husband to Connie. When she became ill, he took care of her until her death in 2015. Bill also remained faithful to God and his church.

Bill was a Union masonry contractor for 34 years and was well respected by the men who worked for him and the people he did business with. You can see his masonry handiwork all over Springfield and the surrounding area. He built an addition onto the University Heights Baptist Church, Central Assembly of God Church, and the Performing Arts Auditorium at Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, just to name a few. Bill also did many jobs at Hiland Dairy, Kraft Foods, and Mid America Dairymen.

He was preceded in death by his wife Connie, his parents, Paul and Ruby Stokes, and two brothers, Paul and Grant.

Survivors include three children, Terri and husband Bill Monday, Bill Jr. and wife Sandy Stokes, Traci and husband Matt Richardson, eight grandchildren and 11 2/3 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

The family would like the entire medical team at Mercy Hospital to know how much we appreciate their care, and especially the nursing staff on 3B. Your compassion and dedication was a daily blessing that truly made a difference in our dad''s life, as well as our own.

Online condolences may be made at www.klingnerfuneralhome.com.