Jo Ann M. Mayes

Jo Ann, beloved wife of Richard L. (Dick) Mayes, was born in Freeport, Illinois, on March 4, 1928, and was adopted at birth by Julia and Carl McKibben. As a child she lived in western Kansas, moving with her parents to Barnsdall (nee Big Heart), Oklahoma, where she was salutatorian of her graduating class at Barnsdall High School. For the next two years she studied at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, before matriculating at the University of Oklahoma where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority and where she graduated in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She put her schooling to use in Arkansas City, Kansas, where she taught kindergarten classes until her marriage to Dick Mayes. The couple lived for a time in Norman, Oklahoma, before establishing a home in Oklahoma City where they were blessed with twin daughters who they named Cynthia Ann (now Carroll) and Deborah Sue (now Hensley). They moved to Morristown, New Jersey, where their third child, Beverly Gail (now Stewart), was born. They lived there until moving to Needham, Massachusetts, following Mr. Mayes’ transfer there. In 1964, the couple moved back to Oklahoma City where their fourth daughter, Julie Kay (now Fry), was born. With her daughters, Jo Ann was active in Brownies and Camp Fire Girls and later on was a founding member of the Sequoia chapter of Questors, a national antiquing club. An ardent member of the Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue Club, she adopted and loved, each their turn, golden retrievers Daisy, Ginger, Sally, and Katie. She is survived by her husband and daughters and sons-in-law Rodney Carroll of Oklahoma City, John Hensley of Piedmont, Oklahoma, Steve Stewart of Edmond, Oklahoma, and John Fry of North Richland Hills, Texas; by grandchildren Ryan and Hayley Stewart of Stillwater and Craig and Kelly Marose of Edmond and Norman, respectively and by Heather Jenkins and husband Mark of Norman, by a brother, Eugene Becker and niece, Connie deWilde, both of Lena, Illinois; by a sister and brother-in-law Sue and John Holladay of Lake Conroe, Texas, and Niece Sherry Rankin and husband Larry of Katy, Texas, and by a second cousin Steve Bures of Tinley Park, Illinois. She was pre-deceased by her parents, Carl and Julia McKibben of Barnsdall; by a sister, Betty Pera, of Las Vegas, Nevada; by a brother Bob Runyard of Rockford, Illinois, and by an aunt, Helen McKibben of Barnsdall. Services will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 15, 2010 at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 8701 NW Expressway. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Cancer Society, the Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue Club, Free to Live, or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. The family wishes to express their appreciation for the extreme care and comfort provided by the staff at Integris Baptist Hospital during Jo Ann’s final hours.

To Jo Ann (McKibben) Mayes:

She was my wife and mine for life

A wonderful mother and like no other;

She was always there with tender care

Beautifully faced, can’t be replaced.

A fountain of love loaned from above

Angel kissed; forever missed.

Now sadly we nod and commit her to God.

~ With love from your husband and family.

Jo Ann’s visitation will be Wednesday, April 14, 2010 from 4pm to 8pm at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Oklahoma City.

Arrangements under the direction of Chapel Hill Funeral Home, Oklahoma City, OK.