Laural Joniel Foster Russell

Nichols Hills resident Joniel “Jo” Russell, died of pancreatic cancer Saturday, July 12, at her home in Edmond. Teacher, Debate Coach Community Volunteer, Jo will be remembered by many as someone you could always count on to do the work.

Jo was born in Muskogee, OK, on November 12, 1937 to Anna Alice Withrow and Paul Henderson Foster. She married Harold L. Russell in Tulsa, 1963. She was preceded in death by her parents and her younger brother, Paul Jacques Foster, and her husband.

She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a B.S. in Speech Education and a M.S. in Secondary Education. She continued to hone her skills studying Microcomputer Literacy and Speech activities obtaining her Debate Judge Certification and Lincoln-Douglas Debate at American University, Washington, D.C.

She served her community as President of Nichols Hills United Methodist Women, Oklahoma Museum of Art Volunteer Association and Omniplex Science Museum Omnipeople. She chaired many committees for The Orchestra League, Decorators’ Show House and her church.

She taught at Heritage Hall, then Central State University, College High School, Bartlesville;Memorial High School, Tulsa and Edmond North High School. After her retirement in 2000, she continued to be active with the National Forensic League by judging at top tournaments across the nation.

She is survived by her son, David Alan Russell, daughter, Sondra Kathryn Russell, granddaughter, Kathryn Alice Devlin and sister, Sharon Gael Rhees of Tulsa, OK.

A Memorial Service will be held in The United Methodist Church of Nichols Hills, Friday, July 25th at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made tothe Oklahoma City Museum of Art; Jo Russell Memorial Debate Fund, c/o National Speech of Debate Association, 125 Watson Street, Ripon, WI 54971; or The United Methodist Church of Nichols Hills.

She will be interred next to her husband in Devon, Kansas.