Jane Arthur Okes

Jane Arthur Okes, 96, of Salem, Virginia, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, August 1, 2026, reunited at last with her beloved husband and the love of her life, Lonnie Lewis Okes Jr. Jane was born on May 26, 1930, in Bacova, Virginia, the daughter of the late Leo E. Arthur and Lillie Jenkins Arthur. She grew up in Hinton, WV, alongside her late siblings, Alma, Joyce, and Leo Jr., and her surviving sister, Sandy. It was there she met Lonnie. The two were married on May 2, 1952, and made their home in Salem, Virginia, where they raised their family. Jane was a longtime member of Calvary United Methodist Church in Salem. Skilled on both the organ and the accordion, she found great joy in sharing that gift with her congregation, as well as her family and friends at home. Her music was a lasting expression of her faith and brought comfort and delight to everyone who heard her play. She is further survived by her two children, Rebecca (Stuart) Peck and Andrew Okes; her grandchildren, Nataly, Simon, Duncan (Kristin), and Nora; and her great-grandchild, Edward Arthur. Jane will be remembered for her deep love of family and friends, and for the way she brought everyone together around the table. Her Thanksgiving dinners were the stuff of family legend, and her grandchildren will never forget mornings spent with her over homemade biscuits and fried apples. A visitation will be held from 1:00 to 2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm, both at John M. Oakey & Son Chapel, 305 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, VA 24153. Burial will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St Jude's Children Research Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html