Ottis Joan Compton

Joan was born on August 31, 1952, in Waco, Texas and was a graduate of Crawford High School. She attended Tarleton State University where she was active in the Wainwright Deb’s and the Agronomy Club. She received her Master of Science in agriculture in 1975. Joan then went on to pursue a doctorate of range management at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, before accepting a job with the USDA in the field of soil conservation.

Always a lifelong learner, Joan went back to school after her retirement from USDA and started a second career as a medical lab technician. She worked for 9 years at Providence Hospital in Waco before she retired a second time. But these were just her day jobs. Her real love was learning and using her knowledge about all kinds of plants and grasses. She loved farming, ranching, gardening, raising goats and chickens, and spending time with her family. Joan also loved to hunt, fish, and travel. She would spend her free time writing songs and poetry and playing her guitar. She was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church at Ocee.

Joan was preceded in death by her father Woodrow “Fotch” Compton, her mother Mildred “Tessie” Compton, and her brother Terry Compton. She is survived by her wife Stella Sosler; her brother and sister-in-law Danny and Pat Compton; nieces and nephews Tilly Compton, Traca Miller, Woody Compton, Jason Compton, Dustin Massengill, and Brandi Cox; and as Joan would say, “a whole passel" of great and great-great nieces and nephews, and a multitude of beloved friends.

Visitation will be at Cole Funeral Home in McGregor Friday, May 2nd from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A graveside service will be Saturday, May 3rd at Compton Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.

For those wishing to make a memorial donation, the family has suggested Compton Cemetery Association, % Tracy Love, 713 Nelson Hill Lane, Crawford, TX 76638.

Pallbearers: Woody Compton, Jason Compton, Dalton Compton, Dillon Compton, Brooks Miller and Colton Compton. Honorary Pallbearers: Dustin Massingill and Brodie Miller.