Obituary for Bebe “Joann” Woodworth

Joann Woodworth

April 12, 1938 – December 6, 2020

Bebe “Joann” Woodworth passed peacefully on December 6, 2020, in Ponca City from a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Joann is at peace now with her loving husband Don. Joann was born April 12th, 1938 to Frank Ellis Wells and Ina May (Barnes) Wells in Shattuck, Oklahoma. Ina and Ellis had to follow the snowplow from Arnett to Shattuck to get to the hospital for her birth after a record-setting late snowstorm.

Being raised in the small town of Arnett, Oklahoma she was involved in most of the school activities and the Methodist Church. She played basketball, the drums, twirled, and was also Miss Arnett in 1955 competing in a regional pageant in Alva.

There was a younger man that took interest in her in school, but it took a few years before he caught her attention. Don and Joann got married on September 20th, 1963 and for the next 35 years resided in Ponca City, where they raised their two daughters Lisa and Angela.

Joann was a stay at home wife and mother while being active in the community. When the girls were young, she made most of their clothes and was a Camp Fire leader and lent a hand with school activities. You could find her for many years helping with the band concession stand during high school football games. One of her other loves was playing volleyball on a team at Conoco which she did for over 20 years.

Joann was pleased when the Marland Mansion was purchased by the City of Ponca where she gave tours and then became a guide coordinator for a few years.

In the late 1980’s she and Don built their dream home overlooking the Arkansas River. Joann designed their beautiful timber frame and was very proud of that fact.

The family traveled extensively in one of their many RV’s, but her favorite place was anywhere in Colorado. After Don retired, they lived in the motorhome full time for a while and then settled in Kerrville, Texas where they had many friends. For health reasons they later moved to Bartlesville and then back to Ponca City.

She is survived by her two daughters, Lisa Countryman and Craig of Bartlesville, Angela Whitfield of Ponca City, three grandsons Chris McCool and Jada of Bartlesville, Kyle McCool of Stillwater, and Cody Whitfield of Ponca City, a brother Gene Wells and Gail of Bethany, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Fae and Milton Wells of Stillwater. She also leaves behind six great-grandsons Cain, Aidan, Daxton, Bryson, Cash, and Brooks, along with nieces and a nephew.

Joann is preceded in death by her husband Don, her parents and parents-in-law, Elma and Leo Woodworth, and grandson Matthew McCool. And also, her beloved feline friends.

Services will be at a later date due to COVID. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.

Source: Trout Funeral Home