Ronald L. Stokes, Sr., 65, Peculiar, Missouri, died Monday, May 23, 2016 at Olathe Medical Center in Olathe, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 27, 2016 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, Missouri, with burial in Wills Cemetery, Peculiar. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday at the Atkinson Funeral Home with Elks service at 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cass County Elks Lodge #2791 Building Fund.

Ron was born June 23, 1950 in Butler, Missouri, the son of Calvin Carroll and Helen Nadeen Gragg) Stokes. He grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and was a graduate of Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a U. S. Navy veteran and part of the Seabees. He married Elizabeth S. Ward on May 19, 1984 in Olathe, Kansas. He lived in Olathe before moving to Peculiar in 1985.

Ron was a production operator for Bayer in Kansas City, Missouri for over 30 years before retiring in 2015. He was a member of the Harrisonville Elks Lodge #2791 and was past Exalted Ruler in 2014. Ron was also a member of the Peculiar Lions Club and past president, and a member of American Legion, Earl Collier Post #153, Olathe, (Commander 1982-1983), and PSD #10, member and president since January 1, 2010. His hobby was baling hay and raising cattle at Diamond S Farms.

Ron was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Beth, of the home; one son, Ron Stokes, Jr., Belton, Missouri; two daughters, Rebecca Reeser and husband, Jacob, and Sarah Stokes, all of Peculiar, Missouri, and two grandsons, Paul Kennedy-Stokes and Matthew Reeser.