Susan J. Noakes

Susan J. Noakes, 78, Hopkins, MO, went to her heavenly rest on June 8, 2025, at Oak Pointe in Maryville, Missouri.

Susan was born on February 3, 1947, in Lafayette, IN, to W. Leroy and Elouise Francis (Lawson) Stokes. They preceded her in death.

She grew up in Indiana and attended grade school in Lafayette, then graduated from high school in Lebanon, IN, while living with her grandparents. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Indiana University School of Nursing, then in 1986, her MSN at St. Louis University School of Nursing, St. Louis, MO. Later she received a Master of Divinity at St. Paul’s School of Theology, in Kansas City, MO.

After marrying Susan moved to Mountain Home, ID, while her husband was in the US Air Force. She later moved to O’Fallon, MO, then St. Charles, MO, and worked at St. Joseph’s Hospital there. She moved to Hopkins in 1995.

Susan proudly served her country in the US Army Nurses Corp.

She retired from nursing in 1995, and became an ordained minister at the Hopkins and Pickering Missouri United Methodist Church’s. Then in 1999, the Ravenwood Methodist Church was added. She had also preached at the Sheridan, Grant City, and Denver, Missouri Methodist Churches.

Susan was an Elder in the United Methodist Conference. Her memberships included PEO, the Mental Health Committee of Nodaway County, and the Habitat For Humanity Board of Northwest Missouri.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur Noakes, in 2020, and by 2 brothers: John in 1991, and David in 2012.

She leaves her sister in law, Melba Jean (Dean) Bentley, Council Bluffs, IA, 5 nephews: Karl Stokes, Newark, TX, Jason Hoepker, Timothy Hoepker, and Wyatt Emery, all of Hopkins, MO, and Keyle Stokes, Maryville, MO, 3 nieces, Sarah Emery, Hopkins, MO, Diana Stokes, Maryville, MO, and Kasey Stokes, Newark, TX, and Wilbur’s niece and nephew, Kimberly Conley, Omaha, NE, and Scott Bentley, Orlando, FL, and many friends.

Susan has been cremated under the care of the Bram Funeral Home, Maryville, MO.

Memorial services will at 11:00 AM, on Friday, June 13, 2025, at the Wray Memorial United Methodist Church, Hopkins, MO. The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the services on Friday.

The burial with full military rites will follow the Hopkins Cemetery, Hopkins, MO

Memorials are suggested to a church of the donor’s choice, or to the Ministry Center, 917 S. Main, Maryville, MO 64468.