In Loving Memory Of

Gordon Eugene Stokes

1934 – 2026

✧ ✧ ✧.

Gordon E. Stokes, age 92, passed away peacefully on June 8,

2026.

Born in Hartsville, South Carolina, Gordon lived a life defined

by dedication to family, service

to others, and a deep appreciation for community. He served in

the United States Army

before marrying the love of his life, Mary Annette Cooke, in

1959. Together, they built a

loving family and shared more than six decades of marriage

until Annette's passing.

In 1970, Gordon moved his family from South Carolina to

Texas, where he established a

successful career in sales. He worked first with Texize

Chemicals and later with The Folloder

Company in Houston, retiring after many years of professional

accomplishment and valued

relationships.

Following retirement, Gordon and Annette made their home

in Lago Vista, Texas, where

they enthusiastically embraced community life. Gordon

especially enjoyed the pleasures of Hill Country living,

including

golf, gardening, social clubs, church activities, and spending

evenings watching the sunset from their deck. Being a part of

the Keep Lago Vista Beautiful Club was especially meaningful

to Gordon, allowing him to serve his community whiledoing something he truly loved.

In 2021, Gordon moved to Treemont Healthcare Center

Assisted Living in Houston. There, he continued to pursue one

of

his greatest passions—gardening. Through countless hours of

dedication, he transformed and nurtured the raised flower

beds that became known as "Gordon's Garden," a vibrant

space filled with flowers, vegetables, roses, and contributions

from fellow residents.

Gordon also discovered a new creative passion through

Treemont's Color Me Calm activity program. What began as a

simple pastime blossomed into an extensive collection of

artwork that became a source of conversation, connection, and

joy. He colored nonstop every day, giving him another purpose:

making people smile. His creations served as expressions

of appreciation for both residents and staff and reflected his

generous spirit and genuine interest in the people around him.

Gordon was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary

Annette Cooke Stokes.

He is survived by his three daughters, Cile Stokes (Terri),

Phyllis Villanoueva (David), and Janice A. Stokes. He was

proud

of his nine grandchildren: Tracey Matney (Richard), Matthew

Broussard (Cassie), Michael Broussard (Carly), Jonathan

Craige, Jake Craige (Cassandra), Greg Naumann, Brooke

Naumann, Janelle Naumann, and Caitlin Govea (Jesus); and

ten

great-grandchildren. All who knew him will cherish his

memory as an example of kindness, perseverance, and

communityengagement that he set throughout his life.

A memorial service will be held at Treemont Healthcare Center

in Houston at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Keep

Lago Vista Beautiful, 20700 South Ridge, Lago Vista, TX

78645, https://keeplagovistabeautiful.com/donate, or to the

charity of your choice.

Gordon's legacy lives on in the gardens he cultivated, the artwork he

shared, the friendships he nurtured, and the family he loved so

deeply

Set along the north shore of Lake Travis, Lago Vista is pairing strong community engagement with measurable environmental impact. Through its Green Center, the city transforms thousands of cubic yards of green waste into free mulch for community landscaping projects, reducing landfill use while supporting beautification efforts. Expanded recycling, bulky item collection, household hazardous waste services, and numerous community cleanup events are helping keep this scenic Hill Country community clean, connected, and beautiful.

Lago Vista is also leveraging its natural beauty to create vibrant public spaces through investments in parks, trails, and public art. Signature projects like the Dawn Drive Mosaic Pollinator Garden, which features large-scale art installations — along with multiple new murals and trail improvements, reflect the community’s commitment to blending environmental stewardship with creative placemaking. Accessibility upgrades and additions like the Turnback Canyon Trail are expanding opportunities for recreation and participation for residents and visitors alike.For more winners from other KTB Affiliate's check out KLVB Facebook page.

Lago Vista,Texas Recognized as Gold Star Affiliate by Keep Texas Beautiful 

Honored for Exceptional Community Improvement Efforts

Lago Vista,Texas- Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), a statewide nonprofit that inspires and empowers Texans to improve their communities, has recognized Keep Lago Vista Beautiful as a Gold Star Affiliate—its highest honor for local partners.

Gold Star status is awarded to affiliates that stand out as essential leaders in their communities, driving measurable impact through sustained programs, strong partnerships, and meaningful volunteer engagement.

"Our affiliates bring our mission to life every day. We are proud to recognize those who are leading the way as Gold Star Affiliates,” said Sara Walters, Executive Director of Keep Texas Beautiful. “These communities exemplify excellence in community leadership by mobilizing volunteers, advancing meaningful projects, and fostering a culture of care and pride in their communities."  

Across the state, communities like Lago Vista, Texas make this work possible. In 2025, KTB affiliates engaged over 100,000 Texans who contributed to over $4 million value of volunteer hours based on the Independent Sector value of volunteer hours. Keep Lago Vista Beautiful  played a key role in this effort, implementing programs that reduce litter, promote recycling, and enhance the local environment.

These are some of our signature projects : the Dawn Drive Mosaic Pollinator Garden, which features large-scale art installations, all the mosaic work was done for KLVB by 7 local artist— along with multiple new murals at the Lago Vista Police Station. Planting trees along Dawn Drive and at Bowden Point. Having 3 group litter pick ups.

Gold Star Affiliates represent the highest standard of community leadership within the Keep Texas Beautiful network. To earn this recognition, affiliates must go beyond core requirements—expanding their programming, investing in training, documenting their impact, and building strong local partnerships. The designation reflects a level of effort and commitment that sets these communities apart as leaders in creating lasting, visible change. 

KTB will honor all 2026 Gold Star Affiliates during the Keep Texas Beautiful Virtual Conference on May 12 - 14, 2026.

About Keep Texas Beautiful 

Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making Texas the best place to live, work, and play! Our mission is to inspire and empower Texans to make their communities clean and beautiful. We provide resources for community improvement projects, recycling, clean-ups, and youth engagement efforts across the state. Through the Keep Texas Recycling program, we provide technical assistance, education, and market access to increase recycling in rural and underserved communities.

Everything we do focuses on mobilizing volunteers to take action by providing them with tools, resources, and training. Founded in 1967, Keep Texas Beautiful’s work is driven by its network of affiliate members, communities, volunteers, and supporters that span the state and reach 17 million Texans annually.

For more information and to find your closest affiliate, visit www.ktb.org. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Keeplagovistabeautiful.com