TORRINGTON – Memorial services for Beth Imogene “Jean” Okes, 93, will be at a later date.
Beth died Sept. 27, 2020, at Community Hospital in Torrington. Cremation has taken place. Burial will take place in Illinois.
The Colyer Funeral Home assisted the family with the cremation arrangements.
Jean was born Aug. 15, 1927, at the family farm home near Waverly, Ill., to Everett and Ruth Turner. She was raised on the farm, attended school and graduated from high school in Waverly in May 1945.
Immediately after graduation, she left home with other local girlfriends and went to Washington, D.C., where she obtained clerical employment with the Department of Defense, working in the Pentagon. While working in the Pentagon, she met her husband, Donald Okes.
They were married Dec. 11, 1949, in Craig, Colo. The couple established their home in Casper, raised their two sons and remained there until May 1972, when they moved to Rawlins. Their children included Eugene and Larry Okes.
While in Casper Jean worked as a retail clerk at both Bostwicks and Porters. After moving to Rawlins, she worked at Bonnie’s and Carl’s clothing stores.
Following retirement, the couple traveled extensively. They lived briefly in Texas and Maine, then settled in Florida from 1977 to 1982. They moved to Jacksonville, Ill., in 1982 and remained there until 2000, when they moved to Torrington to be near their son Larry.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, her son Eugene, her husband Don, one grandson, Ben and a daughter-in-law.
She is survived by her son Larry (Joan) Okes of Lingle; her grandson, Justin (Kristin) Okes of Great Falls, Mont.; three step-grandchildren, CJ (Phylicia) Kowach of Colorado Springs, Colo., Shyanne Peterson and Jesseka Suarez, both of Torrington; nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
At the time of her death, Jean was actively attending Lifeway Church in Torrington and became an organ donor, adding quality of life to a stranger.
