Peggy Sue Yocum
Peggy Sue Yocum, 88, of Phillipsburg, NJ, passed away on September 18, 2020, at St. Luke’s Hospice, Bethlehem, PA.
Sue, as she was known in her early life, was the youngest of nine daughters born to Maude and Claud Yocum in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 5, 1932. Her young life was shaped by the Great Depression, with frequent moves between Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, and California. The Yocum family, at one point, made their home in Colton, CA where she met and married her first husband, William Stokes. They moved east in the1950’s to Queens, NY and raised four children.
Eventually settling in New Jersey, she became known as Peggy. She worked as an EKG technician at the Hunterdon Medical Center until being diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer in 1981. She fought a determined battle against cancer and became a 39-year survivor. Peggy dedicated her time, experience, empathy, and compassion to helping others who were fighting cancer. She volunteered for over 10 years with Partners In Healing, a cancer support group at the Hunterdon Medical Center, provided phone call support to people living with cancer for Cancer Hope Network, and proudly took laps at Relay for Life.
Peggy held a variety of jobs over the years including medical receptionist, retail sales, and antique shop clerk. She was proud to be independent and able to support herself.
Music, art, nature, and creativity were always important to Peggy and she instilled that appreciation into her family. She was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice. She shared her musical gift with many choral groups and church choirs. She was a member of the New Jersey Quakertown Methodist Church Quilters. She loved being outdoors, enjoying the colors, sights, and sounds of nature.
She enjoyed many years of friendship and laughter with her Friday Night Girls, Sandy, Joan, and Carol.
Peggy had strong faith in God. She sang hymns and prayed daily for her family and friends.
Peggy Sue was predeceased by her parents and eight sisters, Mildred, Margaret, Dorothy, Madeline, Evelyn, Rose Ann, Betty, and Mary Lou. She is survived by her three daughters and one son, and their families. Linda Stokes, Gweneth and Gerald Nichols, Sara and Richard Pensack, Wesley and Robin Stokes. Grandchildren, Johanna and Peter Wachter, Eliza and Christopher Ceci, Olivia and Christopher Vance, Jack Nichols, Laura and Nathan Kirton, James and Elizabeth Pensack, Henry and Kate Stokes, Arthur and Kelly Stokes. Great-grandchildren, Lilah, Cole, Griffin, Oscar, Jasper, Oliver, and Jameson.
The family is grateful for the attentive, compassionate care given to Peggy Sue by her doctors, caregivers, and neighbors.
A celebration of Peggy Sue Yocum’s life was held privately.
Memorial Donations can be made to Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance at ocrahope.org