At the age of 95, surrounded by the love of her family, Joan Maxine Butler was called home to be with her Lord on Thursday, October 27, 2022. She died peacefully in St. Francis Hospital, Muskogee, OK. of natural causes and will be deeply missed. But, praise God, according to her, she was prepared to go. Joan was the last surviving child in a family of ten which included two sets of twins.

Joan and her twin brother John were born on February 13, 1927, in Tuskahoma, OK to John William and Florence (Kampplain) Lane. Joan's childhood was spent in Atoka County where she attended Harmony School. She would later move to McAlester, OK where she worked and met a young sailor, Carl Odean Butler, at the Navy Depot there. Carl and Joan were married in Ft. Smith, AR on December 15, 1945. In 1946 the couple welcomed their first child, Senna Gayle. Since Carl was in service, Joan moved to Norfolk, VA and later New Orleans, LA to be near him. Joan was fond of telling the story of living at the foot of Canal Street and watching for the ferry bringing Carl and hundreds of sailors across the Mississippi River on their way home from Algiers Naval Base where they were stationed. Carl, a World War II veteran, earned four battle stars while serving aboard the battleships Milicoma, Libra, and Mississippi.

After being discharged Carl and Joan moved to Durant, OK and he attended Southeastern Oklahoma State College. Joan and Carl then moved to Calvin, OK where Carl taught Science and later became high school principal. The couple added daughter Debra Dianne and son Norris Neil to the family while in Calvin.  Kimberly Dawn and son Dennis Paul were born while the family lived in Stuart, OK where Carl was Superintendent of Schools. They then moved to Hartshorne where Joan resided for over 50 years. She leaves behind many good friends there. The final few years of her life were spent in Muskogee in a cozy little cabin (Shady Pines) purchased and outfitted especially for her by daughter Debra and her husband Ross Jones and moved onto their property where she was lovingly cared for.

Joan was a member of the Adamson Baptist Church. She worked for Hartshorne Schools for many years as a teacher's aide in the Kindergarten class and later as a cook in the elementary cafeteria. She was loved and is fondly remembered by many former students. Joan was an excellent cook as well as an accomplished seamstress. The beautiful quilts she made are prized possessions of her daughters and granddaughters and well as anyone who was fortunate enough to receive one as a gift.  Her crochet work was also extraordinary. She loved playing card games and Yahtzee with her grandchildren and was an avid bingo player for many years. She also enjoyed an occasional trip to the casino where she was unusually lucky. But most of all Joan loved and enjoyed her family. After Carl's death in 1982, Joan was the backbone of her family for many years, getting them all together for holidays and cooking her delicious meals.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband; her grandson, Brandon Russell; great-grandsons, Troy Lee Jones and Kyle Russell; and great great granddaughter, Ellie Nelson. She is survived by her five children, Senna and husband Otis LoVette of Tulsa, OK; Debra and husband Ross Jones of Muskogee, OK; Neil Butler and wife Pat of McAlester, OK; Kimberly and husband Kevin Davis of Hartshorne, OK; and Paul Butler and wife Rachel of Muskogee, OK; 8 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; 10 great great grandchildren; three sisters in law and generations of nieces and nephews.

******************************************************************************

DATE OF SERVICES: 01:30 PM Tuesday, November 1st, 2022

PLACE OF SERVICES: Brown's Funeral Chapel, Atoka, Oklahoma

OFFICIATING: Rev. Paul Butler

INTERMENT: Green Meadows Cemetery, Atoka, Oklahoma

CASKETBEARERS: Ryan Russell, Ryan Nelson, Matt Lane, Brett Lane, Raymond Johnson, Clay Lane

HONORARY CASKETBEARERS: Otis LoVette, Matthew Butler, Scott Lasson, Troy Jones, Dax Jones, Sam Jones

CONDOLENCES MAY BE SENT TO THE FAMILY BY EMAIL TO: BROWNS@ATOKA.NET.  PLEASE REFERENCE THE NAME OF THE DECEASED IN YOUR CORRESPONDENCE

VIEWING IS MONDAY 1-8PM

SERVICES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF

BROWN 'S FUNERAL SERVICE - ATOKA, OK