Joan Graves

Joan (Newsom) Graves, 85, of Adair, Oklahoma passed away on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Joan was born during the Great Depression in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Paul Willis Newsom and Geneva (Montgomery) Newsom. She had remarkable skills in upholstery work; people came from afar for her craftsmanship. She loved her flower garden, enjoyed hobbies – painting landscapes and a myriad of other crafts. Although we have been blessed with others in our life who have shown us what Christ – like love looks like, we want to single out Grandma Joan. She spent her lifetime loving and serving others unconditionally. She always had an open home, an open kitchen, and an open heart. Joan was admired and respected by all who knew her; loved being a part of her grandchildren’s lives – teaching them how to cook, bake and sew. She was kind, loving, and inspired all her family to excel and enjoy life.

No formal services are planned at this time. To leave her family a message, please visit her Tribute Wall at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Shipman’s Funeral & Cremation Service.

Joan is survived by her husband of 65 years, James Graves of the home; sons, C. Robert (Skip) Payton and wife Cindy of North Pole, Alaska, David Payton and wife Lili of Salina, Oklahoma, and Steve Graves and wife Karen of Langley, Oklahoma; sisters, Paula McGirt of Pryor, Oklahoma, Barbara Bruffett of Portales, New Mexico , Linda Harris of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Shawn Theorine of Glendale, Arizona, and brother, Paul Newsom and wife Sandy of Portales, New Mexico; 17 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and extended family. She is preceded in death by her father, Paul Newsom; mother, Geneva Montgomery Collins; daughter, LaDonna Opp; sisters, Donna Bates, Corena Kirby, Brenda Meyers, and brother, Johnny Lyman.