John Loyal Stokes

John Loyal Stokes was born in Ogden, Utah on the 4th of July, 1941 to Loyal Child Stokes and Gladys Victoria Stone.  The youngest of 5 children and only son, John took on the role of “man of the house” at a very young age after his parents divorced when he was 2 and his father passed away 5 years later.

John graduated from Ben Lomond High School in 1959. He worked very hard to support his family, while also putting himself through college and paying for his church mission to London, England from 1961-1963.  In 1966, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Weber State, where he was a part of the first graduating class to receive a four-year degree.  He then received a fellowship to continue his studies at BYU.

On June 30, 1965 he married Carole June Taylor in the Salt Lake City Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  They spent their first year in Ogden while John finished his Bachelor’s degree at Weber State and Carole taught 3rd Grade.  In September 1966, they welcomed their first child, Steven John.  Following graduation, they moved to Provo so John could continue his education at BYU.  While in Provo, Kevin David was born in 1969.

In 1972, John earned his PhD in physics from BYU, after which he and Carole moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico where he worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory.  Two more children were subsequently born in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Amy June in 1976 and Ryan Taylor in 1978.  For the next 25 years, he and Carole raised their family in Los Alamos.

John loved his family and continued to work tirelessly to provide a better life for his wife and children. By example, he taught his children to be self-sufficient, value hard work, and be loyal to loved ones. John zealously served others, even through the last weeks of his life.  He loved scouting, camping, singing and traveling to National Parks with his family.  He would want to be remembered for his great love for the gospel of Jesus Christ, and his efforts to emulate Christ’s teachings.  

John and Carole served for two years (2003-2005) as ordinance workers in the Albuquerque, New Mexico Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and then went on to serve as senior missionaries in the Salt Lake City Church Headquarters Mission serving in the Translation Division from 2005-2006. 

After Carole’s passing in 2008, John re-met Linda Oborn from Ogden Utah at their 50th high school reunion. They married in 2010.  They served in the Albuquerque temple throughout the next 10 years and served a mission together in Orlando, Florida from 2015-2016.

He is survived by his children; Steven Stokes (Rebecca) of New Mexico, Kevin Stokes (Laura) of Iowa, Amy Stafford (Kevin) of Texas, and Ryan Stokes (Jennifer) of Washington; and 17 grandchildren: Britany, Kristen, Miquela, Rachelle, Dallin, Shawn, Brandon, Evabelle, Coralyn, Dustin, Brice, Jaelee, Lucy, Gracie, Braden, Tanner and McKinley, as well as five great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his wife Linda, and her children: Todd Taylor (Julie), Darin Taylor (Anna) and Kevin Taylor (Livia) of Utah; Mark Taylor (Mindy) of Texas, Tiffany Opp (Jim) of Florida and 13 grandchildren: Grayson, Alexis, Ryker, Gabe, Addison, Halle, Cameron, Nolan, Aidan, Zoie, Logan, Aspen and Lincoln.  John’s loving influence will be greatly missed by all. 

He was predeceased by his wife Carole, parents Loyal and Gladys, and sisters LaWana, Colleen, Elaine and Carol.

Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in White Rock on Saturday January 8th with a viewing at 10 am, followed by a funeral service at 11 am.   Internment will take place at Guaje Pines Cemetery, Los Alamos, NM.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to your local ward missionary fund, or a charity that supports research on Multiple Sclerosis (which impacted a number of John’s friends in life).

Please feel free to leave messages of condolence for the family, pictures and stories of John's life.