Joy O. Blackburn Smith

© The Weleetkan

5 Jan 2007

Submitted by: Brenda Franklin

Funeral services were held Dec 29 at the Assembly of God Church in Wetumka for Joy O. Blackburn Smith. Rev. Darrel Gibbs officiated at the services.

Ms. Smith was born Feb. 17, 1932 in Beulah to M.C. and Pricilla Lindley and died Dec. 26 in Midwest City at the age of 74.

She was raised in the Non and Bear communities near Calvin and graduated from Calvin High School in 1950. Her senior year she was honored as an Oklahoma All-State Basketball player. She was married to Boyce Dale Blackburn May 12, 1950 and to this union three children were born. As a young couple they farmed at Allen. In 1956 they moved to Wetumka where they owned and operated the Nine and Seventy-Five Service Station and Café. She also worked at the Hughes County Court House and State Employment Service until her retirement in 1989. Mrs. Smith was a profession of faith as a young woman at a brush arbor church near Bear. She had fond memories of her days as a youth leader at Falls Creek and her membership with the First Baptist Church in Wetumka.

On Nov. 28, 1988, she married to A. Don Smith. After their marriage, A. Don and Joy owned and operated A. Don’s Restaurant in Wetumka. They retried to their farm in Sasakwa in 2001. She enjoyed traveling and all sporting events, in particular, the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys games. Mrs. Smith loved nature, especially the ocean and bird watching. She was well known for her green thumb and her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens.

She was happiest when spending time with her family, who affectionately called her “Gigi”.

Preceding her in death were her parents, former husband, Boyce Dale Blackburn Sr., and a brother, Melvin Lindley.

Survivors include her husband, A. Don Smith of the home; a daughter, Pamela Chastain and husband, John of Wetumka; two sons, Boyce Dale Blackburn and wife Gayle, of Stillwater, and Ira J. Blackburn and wife, Billie, of Stillwater; grandchildren, Valerie Blackburn, Edmond, Amy Kent and husband, Brad, Wetumka, John Tyler Chastain and wife Cortney, Oklahoma City, Catherine Brown and husband Bryan, Edmond, and Jessica Blackburn, Stillwater; four great grandchildren, Holden and Parker Brown, Edmond, and Clancy and Hudson Kent, Wetumka; four sisters, Wanda Collins and husband, Elmer, Norman, Linda Hardage, Enid, Hazel Elliot and husband, Marlin, Richland, Mo., and Christine Johnson, Thomasville, GA.; and two brothers, M.C. (Pete) Lindley and wife Leola, Calvin, and Elvin Lindley, Stuart.

Pallbearers were John Tyler Chastain, Brad Kent, Bryan Brown, Brian Gobhart, Tony Prettenhoffer, Lindsey Maas, and Jared Norman.

Interment was at the Wetumka Cemetery under the direction of Williamson Funeral Home.

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