on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 with her daughter, Jamie, by her side.
Jody was born on August 4, 1946 in Asheville, North Carolina to Herschel and Sarah Chappelear.
She received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Berea College in Kentucky, her master’s degree from the University of Iowa and her Ph.D. from Texas Women’s University.
Jody enjoyed being with her family and loved using her gift of teaching. She served as a nurse and nursing professor for over 45 years. She loved her bible study groups and volunteered often in senior adult centers.
Jody is survived by her loving husband, Dr. Mack Himaya; three children, Dr. Alex Himaya and wife Meredith of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Dr. Paul Himaya and wife Ellie of San Diego, California, Jamie Barki and husband Dr. Brian Barki of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Two Brothers – Robert Chappelear of Fletcher, North Carolina, and Jim Chappelear of York, South Carolina; 11 grandchildren ranging in age from 5 to 23 years old, Katherine and husband Alec, Eli, Ben, Lemley, Brandon, Maya, Hannah, Cameron, Jackson, Lexie, and Oliver; as well as many other family and friends around the world.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Herschel and Sara Chappelear.
Visitation will be at 10 am, followed by the service at 11 am, with Dr. Alex Himaya presiding, at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home, in Haughton, Saturday May 19. Burial will be at 10 am, Tuesday May 23, at Floral Haven Cemetery, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in JoAnn Himaya's memory to either, Battlecreek Church, https://www.battlecreekchurch.com/give, Berea College https://www.berea.edu/giving
or Mercy Ships https://www.mercyships.org/give.
