Lorraine “Babe” Stokes, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away in Powell River on April 28, 2022, age 77. Lorraine was born in Calgary on February 6, 1945 to Jim and Dorothy (Roux) Venus, and when her Francophone grandfather couldn’t pronounce “Lorraine”, calling her “bebe” instead, she became known as “Babe”.

When Babe’s father Jimmy was released from the Army, he found work as a millwright at the Redonda Bay cannery (north of Refuge Cove) and brought his family there. Later, as the family was moving to West Vancouver, the boat made a stop at Powell River. Jimmy stepped off for a beer at a local pub, where he heard about a job opening at the mill, so his family got off the boat and stayed, beginning a comfortable life in Powell River.

Babe and her two sisters grew up in Edgehill, where she became known as a bright and busy “brainiac”. She was a great swimmer and a singer, accompanying herself on guitar. She married Harold Lennox at age 17, and the two homesteaded on a large plot of land south of Powell River near Eagle River, where amongst family and friends, horses and hippies, pigs, chickens, gardens and guitars, Babe and Harold soon had two sons and a dog named Pepe.

After some years of living off the land, with memorable trips exploring the coast and commercial fishing on the vessel Wawanesa, the family settled into a more traditional routine. While working at the Royal Bank in town, Babe signed her sons up with the Powell River Boys Choir where, fundraising and chaperoning, she met her second husband, Terry Stokes.

The two married in their backyard on Marine Avenue, next to their flourishing garden, between fishing adventures (where Babe slayed at Buzz Bombing), traveling the world, scuba diving, curling, and golfing. They would take off on unplanned trips to all sorts of places by car or plane. “We’ll end up where we end up!” was the refrain. Babe would leave her cat Fred in the greenhouse while away, counting on her boys to keep him alive and happy.

Babe opened a store, “Lorraine’s Fine Yarns”, on Marine Avenue, before becoming a real estate agent for a few years. Her passion for volunteering and knack for organizing eventually led to serving as president, first at the Powell River Curling Club and later at the Myrtle Point Golf Club. Club life included trips, tournaments, and annual events where she would perform skits with friends. For three years, Babe served as both president and head of the management committee for the golf course.

Her home was always welcoming, and Babe was as loving and generous as she was informed and uncompromising; in conversation she would lay out the facts as she saw them, along with some pretty strong opinions. She was as sharp as a tack, and lightning quick with a good, “Shut the hell up!” for her closest friends and family, all while offering freshly-baked pie and cookies.

Granny Babe was known as a “cool” granny, so fiercely proud of her family she would swing a wooden spoon in the air from time to time. She became well-known for her baking and quilting. She donated her exquisite quilting work – and eventually more and more of her time and energy – to the Powell River Health-Care Auxiliary Economy Shop, helping to carry on a great benefit to the community that she loved.

COVID-19 came while Babe was battling COPD, and her and husband Terry, like so many of us, laid low and avoided visitors. Sadly, as the risks of COVID-19 were subsiding, her respiratory complications were increasing.

Babe will be remembered as a mother who loved and protected her boys, giving them fearless guidance and direction. The health of the organizations she touched stands in part as testament to her talents and generous spirit.

She is survived by her husband Terry, sons Jason (Joyce) and Jordan (Maria), stepchildren Rob (Fay), Kim (Arthur), Tobin (Judith), grandchildren Ashleigh, Andrew, Mathew K, Vaughn, Mathew S, Leo, Rory, Maree, Rebecca, Kohen, six great grandchildren, and sisters Marie (Rob) Wood and Carol (Don) Skorey.

Our family is grateful to Dr. Uhlmann and the ICU nurses for all the care they provided. A celebration of life is to be announced.