Jo Ann Turtle

Jo Ann Turtle was born on December 8th, 1949 in Tahlequah, OK, the daughter of Kenneth Edgar and Hiawatha (Foreman) Lamb. She grew up with three brothers and two sisters, Kenneth Harold Mitchell, Bobby Leon Foreman, Pat Lamb Horn, Edgar Wayne “Sonny” Lamb and Deloris Jean Lamb Hart. She attended school at Oaks Mission School, and was in high school when she met Hommer Edward Turtle, and she had found the man of her dreams. They were untired in Holy Matrimony on March 18th 1968 in Tahlequah, OK. They were blessed with one daughter and one son, Angela and Brian. First and foremost, Jo Ann was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. She made the Turtle home warm and cozy, sewing and crocheting, raising beautiful gardens full of flowers, and in the kitchen, she would welcome you with chicken and dumplings, fried chicken, beans and cornbread, and the best cakes and pies you ever ate. When she wasn’t working, she loved heading to the creek to do a little fishing, swimming and camping. When she was younger, she accompanied Hommer in the evenings to go play music, Hommer was gifted with playing guitar and singing, and she loved to accompany him. JoAnn was always ready to check out a garage sale, spend a little time at the casino with her friends, travel to someplace new to see the sites, and devoting countless hours to the Oaks Senior Citizens Club. If you knew Jo Ann, she was quiet and very kind, would help anyone that needed her and never met a stranger. Yet she had no problems expressing herself and letting you know how she felt. She was often found going about her daily work in the company of her canine companion, Stephanie. A Christian by faith, she attended the Rocky Ford Community Church, and showed her love for the Lord in her daily life. She had many plans to accomplish, and so many things to see and do with her grand and great grandchild. The Lord called this loving, kind and wonderful woman home from her many labors on February 11, 2023 in Tulsa, surrounded by those who knew and loved her. Jo Ann was 73 years old.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Thomas and Noba (Henson) Lamb and Reuben and Annie (Miller) Foreman. She also joins her mother and father, her son, Brian who passed in 1972, two brothers, Kenneth Mitchell and Bobby Foreman, and one sister, Deloris Jean Hart.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband of 55 years, Hommer Turtle of the home in Oaks, and her beloved daughter, Angela Foreman of Oaks, OK. She will be cherished by her sister, Pat Horn and husband Guy of Oaks, OK, and brother Edgar Wayne “Sonny” Lamb and wife Iva Jane of Rose, OK. She will be missed by her grandson, Derek Shawn Turtle of Oaks, OK, and great granddaughter Brooklyn Woolman of Jay, OK. There are also her aunts, Ruby Lamb of Twin Oaks, OK, and Sarepta Lamb Stephens of Anderson, MO and her best friend, Carolyn Foreman, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones too numerous to mention.

Funeral services for Jo Ann Turtle will be held on Friday, February 17th, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Eben Ezer Lutheran Church with Brother Wayne “Boolie” Forrest officiating. She will be laid to rest with her loved ones at Russell Double Springs Cemetery near Oaks, OK. Pallbearers for Jo Ann include Rocky Carroll, Steve Wilson, Jeremy Hart, Keith Lamb, Josh Haynes, and Chris Foreman. Her honorary pallbearers include Derek Turtle and Sonny Lamb.

Her family will receive visitors on Thursday, February 16th, 2023 at Reed-Culver Funeral Home from 1:00pm until 5:00pm.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Turtle family.