Obituaries:  Mrs. Lovie A. Stoker, Sabine Parish       S-326
Source:  Sabine Index, Many, La., Mar 8, 1973
Submitted by: Carl Dilbeck
              carlrad@earthlink.net




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Mrs. Lovie A. Stoker (Photo)

  We have come here this afternoon to mourn the passing of a very
dear friend, Mrs. Lovie A. Stoker. Mrs. Stoker was born at
Flovilla, Georgia, October 1, 1897. She passed from this life,
February 15, 1973, at Many, Louisiana, at the age of seventy five
(75) years, four (4) months, and fifteen (15) days.

  Survivors include her husband, Dr. Rolan R. Stoker; two sons,
Rolan R. Stoker Jr., and Thomas M. Stoker; five grandchildren;
and one great grandchild; two brothers, Carson, and Leslie
Preston; and five sisters, Mrs. E. C. Ruff, Mrs. Roy Boggs, Mrs.
Edwin Dyer, Mrs. Fred Jett, and Mrs. Edwin Horne; and as you can
see, a great host of friends.

  When I think of Lovie Stoker in her last days, and in her home
going, I think of II Timothy 4:7. "I have fought a good fight, I
have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

  Mrs. Lovie lived a very full and useful life. She has been
involved in many, many civic and community affairs. In fact, it
would be impossible to recount all the many splendid
accomplishments she has made, and the many services rendered to
her fellow man.

  Bur Lovie Stoker shines most brightly when we look at her in her
role as Christian, and toiling servant of her Lord, Jesus Christ.

  I have been her pastor for near two (2) years now, and in these
two years, we have been on the mountain tops together, and we
have been in the deep dark dismal valley together. So many times
she has spoken much needed words of encouragement to a
disheartened preacher boy. For this I am eternally grateful. She
has been one who moved ever onward and upward in the service of
her church and her Master.

  I would not tell you that she was always right in every decision
she made, or in every action she took. To do so would be to deny
her humanity, but she, like the Apostle Paul, had a definite
awareness of Divine leadership, and was always faithful to run
the course that was set before her. She stood, even if alone, and
expressed her convictions, and I believe that she always had the
betterment of her church and her people in mind when she made a
decision or took action. If it meant misunderstanding, then
misunderstanding it must be. If it meant hurt feelings, then it
was hurt feelings, but she stuck by what she believed to be the
right thing for the people of the church.

  Her text, and I have heard her preach it so many times, was "Be
ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves." (James 1:22) In her many years in the class room with
Juniors, which she loved so much, she emphasized this text, In
the Church Council, in the WMU organization, in fact, wherever
she happened to be, she placed emphasis on this verse of
scripture.

  I had several occasions to visit with her alone in her hospital
room during the last few months of her life, and we always talked
about the need for working in the church. It was impossible to
talk to Lovie Stoker for long without getting on the subject of
Christianity. She loved to talk about her Lord.

  One day, she told me, "Now I have more time than I ever have
had, time to pray, to pray for my church, for my people." There
is no doubt in my mind that she loved her family very dearly, and
she loved her native Georgia, but she loved the people of Fort
Jesup too. She referred to you as "my people."

  She gave this testimony, "I am perfectly willing to go through
this if by so doing, I can bring honor to my Lord."

  Many, who for one reason or another, have dropped out of church,
were always on her heart. Some of you who are here today, she
talked to you about your relationship to God, and she talked to
God about that relationship.

  Even in a state of sub consciousness, her thoughts were toward
her church work. Among the last things she said was, "We've got
to meet the budget, come on ladies, let's get down to business."

  What a peace, what a tranquil spirit, a contentment, to know
that the one we love, left this earthly existence with the
assurance that she had fought a good fight, that she had finished
her course, and that she had kept the faith.

  The message that I would leave with you today is not my message,
but Lovie Stoker's life. Her text, "Be ye doers of the Word, and
not hearers only...", that we may be ready when we too must face
this hour of transition.

  In behalf of the family, I say to all of you who have been so
loving and kind in these months of Mrs. Lovie's illness, and in
her death, "Thank You."

  And to the family, may God's richest blessings be with you as
you go back to your homes. And may He ever fill that vacancy with
precious memories of the full and complete life of the one now
gone.

  (Message submitted and paid for by Dr. Rolan R. Stoker.)