Emma Lou Francis

Emma Lou Francis, 67, died Saturday, July 14, 2007, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.

A family memorial service will be held at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel 101 North 4th Street, Clear Lake, with Pastor Thomas Healey officiating. Inurnment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the IOOF Home, Mason City.

Emma Lou Francis was born Oct. 14, 1939, in Centerville, Iowa, the daughter of Harley and Dorothy (Lee) Francis. Emma graduated from Clear Lake High School. She moved to Arkansas where she worked for various companies. Emma enjoyed crafts and bead work, making necklaces and bracelets. She also loved her pets.

Emma is survived by her mother, Dorothy Francis, Clear Lake; siblings Charlotte (Sam) Swartz, Clear Lake, Frank (Connie) Francis, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Peggy (Ron) Brinkman, Clear Lake, and Tom Francis, Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her father, Harley Francis.

Gordon Dean Stokes, 63, 21714 Dogwood Ave, Clear Lake, died Sunday, July 15, 2007, following a short battle with brain cancer. According to his wishes his body was cremated. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

The family of Gordon Dean Stokes has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Gordon Dean Stokes memorial fund in his memory.

Gordon Dean Stokes was born Aug. 19, 1943 in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Wayne Gordon and Anna Ruth (Miller) Stokes. He attended Clear Lake High School and Mason City Junior College. Gordy married Gayle Westcott on Feb. 17, 1965 at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. Gordy served in the U.S. Army for four years, and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. He is a life long member of the V.F.W. Gordy was a contractor, working in many locations in the Midwest. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, prairie flowers and watching NASCAR.

Gordy is survived by his wife, Gayle Stokes, Clear Lake; two sons, Shane Stokes and special friend, Dawn DeShaw, of Tiffin, Iowa and Christian Stokes and special friend, Brooke Bahndorf of Tiffin; grandchildren, Hunter and Hanna Ruth Stokes, Brittani and Brienna DeShaw, Alyson, Colby and Tristan Stokes; mother-in-law, Esther Westcott, brother-in-law Dick Westcott, Mason City, and sister-in-law, Phyllis Willis and her husband Paul, Thornton, Iowa; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

Gordy was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Anna Ruth, and his father-in-law, Rex Westcott.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.