Virginia Faye Stokes Wagner Kester Virginia Faye Stokes was born on March 2, 1913 in Conrad, Montana to Edna Mina Armstrong and Thomas Parley Stokes. She grew up on a ranch 26 miles from Conrad and 60 miles from Great Falls, Montana. Her parents were ranchers who raised wheat, barley, oats and cattle on 5,000 acres of prime Montana land. Coming home, they could always see the dust and hear the sounds that cattle make. There were seven children in the Stokes family, with Faye being the eldest. As the eldest, she cared for her sisters and brothers. First came her sisters Shirley and Fern, then the brothers Parley Russell, Gerald Guy, Thomas William and Edwin Irvin, who died at two weeks. Faye's nephew, son of Fern, Russell Aiken, has the ranch now. Faye remembers walking or riding her horse to a one-room school, which was 1 ¾ miles from their ranch, from age 5 years on. Faye met her husband-to-be, Martin Floyd Wagner, when visiting her aunt and uncle one Sunday. Their first date was to the movies in Conrad. Faye wore a blue flapper style dress with three rows of fringe and Martin gave her a wood box he made (it is still in her living room). Martin had a "Whippet Coupe," but during the winter they used a team of horses and a sled. They dated for two years. Faye and Martin were married in 1932 at the Conrad Methodist Church. Martin, whom she called M.F., traveled with the dredger business all over the world. While he was traveling the world, Fay went to the Delores Premier Beauty School in San Francisco. She passed the state board and worked as the freshman teacher there and later became the supervisor. Faye went home to Montana for Marlea's birth and then traveled back to California when Marlea was 3 months old. Marlea cried all the way. Faye said that if the windows on the train had opened, she would have thrown her out. Marlea Faye Wagner was born on July 10, 1939 and passed away on July 12, 2001. Martin purchased the Case dealership in Wasco, which Faye ran successfully for many years after MF died. She met Al Kester at the tractor dealership when he came by to purchase filters for his tractor. She remembers he had a rope for his belt. They were married in Reno. Faye spent many years as a successful real estate broker in Wasco, being forced to give up her business only because of health concerns. She was well respected in the community and gave generously of her time and talent to many organizations, including The Wasco Chamber of Commerce, the Business and Professional Women's Club, Eastern Star, the Rose Society. She was an amazing woman, left her footprint where ever she went, and will be missed by all who knew her. Faye is survived by a sister Fern Pemberton of Ft. Myers, Florida and a brother Gerald Stokes of Choteau, Montana. At last count, Faye has 65 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Martin Wagner and Albert Kester; daughter, Marlea; a sister, Shirley Guy; brothers, Parley Stokes, Thomas Stokes and Edwin Stokes and her parents Parley and Edna (Armstrong) Stokes. A memorial service will be held Friday, May 20, 2011 at 11am at Peters Funeral Home, Wasco for Faye S. Kester, age 98, who passed away at home May 15, 2011. Chaplain Bruce Ball of Odyssey Hospice will officiate the service and interment will be private at Wasco Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Wasco Community Scholarship Association.