Photo © by Kay Marshall

Obit posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger

http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/

Mary “JoAnn” Pearce, 76, passed away Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at her home in Norman, Oklahoma. 

She was born October 7, 1934 in Batesville, Arkansas to Joel and Nova (Harris) Matlock.  Her Family moved to Madill, OK in 1942.  While attending high school she met her husband Harry; they were married December 20, 1952. 

JoAnn and Harry raised two daughters, Tama and Susie.  Her favorite pleasure was being Nana to her grandchildren and great-grandson. 
JoAnn was a member of Bethel Baptist Church where for five years she was the president of her Sunday school class.  Serving the Vota Vita Class was a privilege she truly loved.   JoAnn Graduated from the University of Oklahoma obtaining her BS and Master degrees in education.  During her 25 years of teaching she served on the Norman Public School Math Committee and the Moore-Norman Vo-Tech Math Committee.  She was Whittier's Teacher-of-the-Year, 6th  and 7th grade team leader and Whittier's math coordinator.  After first teaching at McKinley Elementary, she retired from Whittier Middle School in 1991. 

JoAnn is survived by her daughters, Tama Hales and husband Keith of Houston, TX and Susie Hughes and husband Austin of Norman, OK; one brother, Jim Matlock and wife Jan of Sayre, OK; three grandchildren, Ryan Minnich and wife Christina of Lockhart, TX, Pearce Hughes and Chance Hughes; one great grandchild, Zachery Minnich and her close friend, Kay Dillon. 

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry Lee Pearce; and her granddaughter, Melinda Lee McClure.  The family wishes to express their appreciation to Heartland Hospice.