Obituary for Jonece “Jonie” Paynter

Jonece Jayne Paynter

July 2, 1931 – January 31, 2024

Jonece (Jonie) Jayne Paynter , age 92, of Ponca City, Oklahoma, passed way Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at the Ponca City Nursing and Rehab Center. A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm, Monday, February 12, 2024, at the Ponca City Odd Fellows Cemetery. The service will be officiated by Reverend Joseph Highley of the First Lutheran Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home and Crematory, 505 W. Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.

Jonie was born on July 2, 1931, in Ponca City, Oklahoma to Harold and Irene (Muegge) Mead. She was reared in Ponca City and graduated in 1950 from Ponca City High School, where she was a three year member of the Dynamiters Cheer Club. Both her father and grandfather were lifelong Ponca City and Kay County law enforcement officers. She vividly remembered visiting her father in the old Kay County Jail and sliding on the freshly waxed floors while visiting with the inmates. From an early age, Jonie was a gifted artist. After high school graduation, she attended Kansas City Art Institute majoring in sculpturing.

Returning to Ponca City, she worked in retail clothing sales at French’s Ladies Wear. On the luckiest day of her life, a handsome young man entered the store to buy a gift and ended up asking her out on a date. The rest is history as she and Thornton Paynter were married in 1953 at the First Christian Church in Ponca City. They were married 66 years until Thornton’s passing in 2019. Jonie was a 60 year member of First Lutheran Church in Ponca City. A special thanks to the Lutheran women for many years of visitation and providing holiday cards and gifts.

Jonie and Thornton had two sons, Steven in 1954 and Stanley in 1956. After the boys entered Junior High School, she returned to work in retail ladies’ clothing, working at Bernard’s and Edward’s for over 30 years. She was known at Edward’s as the “Estée Lauder Lady” for many years. She had fond memories and stories of her years working on historic Grand Avenue.

Survivors include her two sons, Steve of Oklahoma City and Stan and his wife Grace (mom called her the daughter she never had) of Ponca City. Grandchildren include Scott Paynter of Oklahoma City, Jason Paynter and wife Allison of Alexandria, Virginia, and Chelsea Paynter of Austin, Texas. Great-Grandchildren include Aubrey, daughter of Scott; Madison, Landon, and Colton, children of Jason and Allison.

Preceding Jonie were her husband Thornton, both parents, and sister Marcene Young.

Source: Trout Funeral Home