Obituary for JoAnne Davis

JoAnne Green Davis

May 02, 1931 – February 28, 2018

JoAnne Green Davis, formerly of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died early Wednesday morning, February 28, 2018, in the Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City at the age of 86 years.

Josephine Anne Green was born on May 2, 1931, in Anthony, Kansas, to Arthur Eric and Anna Cates (Cissell) Green. She grew up in Wakita, Oklahoma, and graduated from Wakita High School in 1949. She furthered her education by attending Oklahoma A & M in Stillwater. While in college she married Ray Davis on June 5, 1951, in Wakita and they settled in Blackwell where she served her family as a homemaker and worked in their restaurant. Later she obtained her real estate license and worked as an agent for many years. In 1969 she returned to Oklahoma State University and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in special education. Following graduation she began teaching in the Blackwell Public Schools, eventually serving as Director of Special Education. While teaching and raising her family, she pursued her Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in school administration with an emphasis in reading and special education. She served as an assistant professor at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva and West Texas A & M University in Canyon, Texas. JoAnne was instrumental in the development of special education programs in the state of Oklahoma and was awarded the Maurice Walraven award in 1992 for her service. After retirement in 1997, she moved to Edmond, Oklahoma, to be near her grandchildren. She was an active member of the Church of the Servant and volunteered in the Whiz Kids Program tutoring Oklahoma City students on a weekly basis. She enjoyed genealogy, gardening and cheering for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

She is survived by four sons, R. L. Davis of Broken Bow, Rick Davis of Denver, Colorado, Richard Davis and wife Lori of Edmond, and Derek Davis of Edmond; two brothers, Feller Green and wife Gerry of Wakita and H. J. Green and wife Gloria of San Diego, California; grandchildren, Elise, Grayson, Anna, Chris, Joel and Rad; great grandson, Jackson and her favorite niece, Carol Green.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Dick Green; and a grandson, Brett Robert Davis.

Services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 3rd at the Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City with Rev. Tim Travers officiating. Burial will be at 4:00 p.m. in the Wakita Cemetery.

Honorary casketbearers will be Joel Davis, Grayson Davis, Chris Davis, Rad Davis, Keith Sherrill, David Braly and Scott Taylor.

A memorial has been established in her honor with the Special Olympics in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.

The family will greet friends on Friday evening, March 2nd at the funeral home from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.