Mary Louise Hays Stokes

Mallette joined that H eavenly C hoir at age 89 on Friday, January 15, 2021, in Opelika, Alabama . Mary Lou was born near Mobile Alabama to Samuel Elisha Hays and M yrtle Mae Davis on March 1 7, 1931. She was a wife, moth er, grandmother , gr eat-grandmother , sister , aunt , and friend . She was an independent , strong wil led , free spirited, creative , artistic, self-made woman .

Mary Lou, known as LouLou to those who were close, led a varied and colorful full life. In her early years as a mother , she instilled in her three children a strong sense of independence and a work ethic that fostered in them an attitude to embrace her teachings of "you can do anything you set your mind to" approach to life. Her love of music, which spanned a lifetime, se t her on the path to go from church secretary, to youth choir director , to eventually become the choir director for her small Alabama church. Later she would lead the weekly sing-a-longs, heavy on the h ymns, at the senior living facility where she resided. As her c hil dren became more independent and after a move to Warner Robins Ga., she taught herself the skills of court reporting , eventually starting her own company and traveling the southeas t fulfilling her duties, sometimes with a camper in to w, staying independently at campgrounds along the way. Always an avid and talented painter , crafter, and photographer , she was able to pursue this passion m ore freely in her retirement years . Lou Lou co uld often be found in the bayous photographing or pain ting the boats or waterways which were her favorite subjects. Many of these she sold at local markets and boutiques . Her talents and gifts that were inherited from her mother, have been passed down and fostered by her to her daughters and beyond . As a love r of all animals , she especially had a heart for t hose that were the neediest and rejected. In her care these least of God's creat ures found unconditional love, rest , and peace . " Thing " , her last remaining , loyal, rambunctious recued chihuahua , as well as all her family and friends will miss her greatly. She was prece ded in death by her parents , her stepfather Doc k Hall ; husband , Joseph Mallette ; sisters , Myrtle Hays Thomas, and Beverly Hay s Tharp ; brother s , Clayton and Harold Hays ; grandchild , E ric Hamilton ; and former spouse , Landon K Stokes.

Survivors include her children , Michael Edward (Terry) Stokes, Jud ith Kay Stokes Hussey (Dave) , Linda Susan Stokes Hobbs (Bob) ; grandchildren , Jeffery Hamilton , Rachel Stokes (Jeremy) Fisher , Sarah Stokes (Troy) Clevenge r, Stephan Hobbs, Kaitlyn Stokes (Kenny) Ladnier ; more a daughter than niece, Sharon Tharp Hawkins (Hen ry) ; four great- grandchildren , nieces, nephews and other relatives a nd friends.

Due to the current pandemic, t here will not be a public service . A priva te fami ly memorial will be held on /or around her birthday near one of her beloved bayous in her native home of south Alabama.

In lieu of flowers we request you please spend extra time with the ones you love , making new memories and celebrating old ones.