Wanda Wyona Dillard (Stokes), age 94, of Brighton peacefully entered into heaven to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 31, 2021.

Wanda was born around sundown on June 23, 1927 to Relod and Orville Richard Stokes at their home. As Orville was returning home on horseback from “fetching the doctor,” he was greeted by his new baby girl. Relod and Orville were elated to finally have their girl (already having two boys, Grant and George Henry). Wanda would soon have a sister, Arvilla, with whom she would remain close for the rest of her life.

Wanda spent her childhood on the family farm milking cows, making molasses, chasing donkeys, and dodging horses. The Stokes’ lived life as most rural families did during the time, combining hard work with the simple joys of country life. In Wanda’s words, “Life wasn’t easy back then…but it was fun.”

On one of those fun summer days at the swimming hole, Wanda met the love of her life, Wayne Dillard. They married in 1950 but would have to put a family on hold while Wayne served his country overseas. They would eventually have three boys, Bruce, Kenneth, and Phillip.

A lifelong learner, Wanda started teaching in the one-room Swadley schoolhouse she attended as a child and would go on to obtain her master’s degree in Education from Southwest Missouri State. In addition to being a teacher, she continued dairy farming with Wayne and raising their boys, participating in 4-H and helping them show cattle.

Wanda was a long-time member of the Pleasant Hope Fundamental Baptist Church, where she was a mainstay behind the piano every Sunday. In addition to her music ministry, she was continually shuttling neighbor kids to area Vacation Bible Schools in the summers.

Wanda loved living on the farm and loved having her family close. All her family shared these experiences with Mom or Grandma: picking blackberries, hulling walnuts, tending cattle, or just simply walking the land. After 52 years of marriage, Wayne passed away, although she never stopped loving him and continued to run the family farm into her 90s.

Wanda loved music, quilting, and gardening. She was independent, thrifty, tough, and hardworking…but above all, she lived her life in the spirit of Christ, showing love and mercy to all people she knew.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, Edmond Wayne Dillard, Son Kenneth Doyle Dillard, siblings Grant Stokes and George Henry Stokes.

She is survived by her sister, Arvilla Feith of Pleasant Hope, son Bruce Lynn Dillard of Brighton, son Phillip (and wife Kay) of Pleasant Hope, her three grandchildren, Gregory Wayne Dillard (and his wife Myndi) of Overland Park, Daniel Roy Richard Dillard (and his wife Ashley) of St. Louis, and Eric Joseph Dillard of Springfield. Wanda is survived by her six great grandchildren, Harper Lee, Arch Edmond, Dean Wayne, Charlotte Christine, Donald Steven, and David Roy Richard.

A Visitation will be held Thursday November 4 from 6pm to 7pm and Funeral services November 5 at 3pm at Greenlawn North (3506 N National Ave). Graveside services will follow at Brighton Cemetery. The family thanks you for socially distancing and contactless consolation during these events.

The family is thankful to all the family and friends, especially Integrity Hospice nurses and Malinda Kendrick for the immense support and loving care given to Wanda and her family in the last months of her earthly life.