Date of Death: April 12, 2023
Service Details
Visitation will be held Monday, April 17, 2023 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers. Visitation will also be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Pastor Charles Johnson will officiate. She will be laid to rest in the Riverside Cemetery.
Obituary Notice
Fairah Eileen “Shorty” Stokes, 97, of White Pigeon, went to be with her Heavenly Father Wednesday, April 12, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.
She was born November 11, 1925 in Oil Trough, Ark., the daughter of Robb and Myrtle (Davidson) Phifer. She grew up in Bald Knob, Ark. as the oldest of eight children. Where she spent most of her time looking after her brothers and sisters.
On March 27, 1943, Shorty was married to John Richard Kilburn until he died in World War II. She then married Raymond Stokes on January 26, 1945. They were married for 34 years.
She worked at Continental Can, Tri-River Inc. as well as at several area nursing homes.
Shorty’s faith was strong and she was a member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church for many years. Her priorities were church and family.
Remaining to cherish her memory are her children, Tommy (Linda) Stokes of Three Rivers, Patricia (Mike) Dailey of Three Rivers, Richard (Bettie) Kilburn of White Pigeon, and Donald (Judy) Kilburn of Portage; 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, two brothers and three sisters.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, John Richard Kilburn and Raymond Stokes; parents; stepfather, Andy Jones; brothers, Doyle Jones and Lynn Jones; grandson, Tommy Allen Stokes.
Additional Information
Donations in Shorty’s memory may be directed to Three Rivers Hospice or Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Please Leave Your Condolences
When your condolences are submitted they will not display until approved by the Hohner staff for appropriateness out of respect for their memory. They should appear within 24 hours or less. Thank you for your understanding.
Tommy, Pat, Beth and family, I am so sorry to hear about Shorty. She was such a sweetheart and loved by everyone. Prayers for all of you. Carol and Harvey and family
Many days and nights spent enjoying each other. Mexico being one of the best memories for sure. We could be heard laughing throughout the hotel. Shorty was content, pleasant, funny, lovable, giving. But most of all a follower of our dear Savior. We will see you again my dear precious friend!! Love from all of the Valencourt’s! 🤟💯
My dear sweet Aunt Shorty, how I loved you and of course will miss you.
This is one of God’s finest gifts to me and I thank him for her. All my life she has been there for me. She never once turned her back on me whether I was in the right or in the wrong. She was always there to love me and any correction she ever offered was one done with absolute love and in reflection of our savior’s grace. She always glorified God through her life, a woman of his character., always selfless, kind, generous, loving, hospitable and genuine. I lived with her and Uncle Raymond for a period of time in my teenage years and was always welcomed and shown so much love. How can I ever express in word’s the gratitude and love that I have in my heart for them both?
I enjoyed being her pastor for 21 years.
She was a very sweet lady.
Sorry to hear she passed ,prayers to the family
There was always a smile on her face and kind words from her mouth. She was a very nice lady, which nobody can deny. Hugs and prayers to her family and close friends during this difficult time.
One special lady. She was one of a kind. I know she is in Heaven rejoicing. Would love to be there for her funeral. My health won’t permit it.
“Shorty” was indeed the sweetest nicest people I’ve ever met and very funny too she reminded me so much of my mom sharing the nickname and looking like her i love you and miss you!!!❤️
Gone , but will never be forgotten. Love Mike , Deb and Family.
What a sweet, kind, lady! We were blessed to have met ‘Shorty” when our daughter and her nephew were married in 1984.
‘If only we could see her now’

Shorty was one of the best people I have ever known. There isn’t a person who didn’t like her. She was genuinely the salt of the earth.
RIP
prayers and she will live forever with the angels in heaven!