Joan was born on May 30,1930 in Cache, Oklahoma to Walter B. and Thelma Simmons Callicott. She was raised in Cache and Lawton and graduated from Lawton High School in 1947. She then attended Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls and Galveston,Texas and received her bachelors degree in Nursing. After graduation she worked for Drs. Bill Howard and David Kalbflesh in Lawton.
She met and married her husband Jim while he was stationed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and they were married in 1959. They were married over 61 years.
Joan followed Jim to his various duty stations at Ft. Greeley, Alaska, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma and Ft. Bliss, Texas and they settled in El Paso making it their permanent home. At this time Joan returned to nursing and became Director of Nursing at Thomason General Hospital. After several years, going to various hospital administration positions at Providence Hospital for over 27 years. She then helped open Sierra Medical Center. During her nursing career she returned to school and attained 2 Masters Degrees. One in Nursing and the other in Hospital Administration. Her nursing career spanned over 50 years. She was a mentor to several nurses during her career and helped them advance in their careers. Upon retirement she and Jim moved back to Lawton temporarily and opened 2 "Curves for Women" fitness centers, which they ran for 10 years. They then returned to El Paso.
Joan was a great cook and never failed to surprise everyone with what could come out of her kitchen and she was also a voracious reader.
It would be safe to say that anyone who knew Joan knew that she was a motivated lady and didn't usually take "no" for an answer. This defiantly encouraged several ladies in their goals to be more physically fit in her years at Curves. Joan maintained her love of physical fitness until the end.
She is survived by her husband Jim of the family home, their son Jim "Jsr of Lawton, Oklahoma, grandson McCajah Johnson and his wife Tawney of San Diego, California and 4 grand children Adrian, Connor, Jaxson and Lily of San Diego.
