JoAnn Grinnell passed away Saturday, July 25, 2015 at the age of 84. She was born to Kenneth and Barbara Gilland, of Arkansas City, KS on January 5, 1931. The older of two daughters, she grew up in Arkansas City, attended and graduated from Arkansas City High School.
In 1949, she married Earl Grinnell, Jr. also of Arkansas City. From 1951 through 1955, Earl served in the U.S. Air Force and they were stationed in CA, MS, and TX. She lived in Arkansas City when he served a tour to Korea during the Korean War, and worked as the window display designer for Newman’s Department Store.
She moved with Earl in 1957, when he began his work with the Indian Health Service at Wewoka, then to Henryetta and Eufaula, and finally to Shawnee in 1968. While raising 5 children and keeping up the home front, she worked as the advertising account representative at the Shawnee News Star for 24 years until her retirement in 1994. During this time, she was an active member of the Kiwanis Club of Shawnee.
She was a devoted mother and matriarch of the Grinnell family and dearly loved all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and over the years she attended hundreds of their school and sporting events. She made many trips to Grand Lake, enjoyed her time at the lakefront cabin. She always found time to read and would finish an entire book in one evening. She loved traveling and took vacations to nearly every state in the USA, and a trip to Germany. Her favorite routes were back roads to really get to see the countryside. Her home was always open when any of the Grinnell extended family would come by to visit. Family dinners were special to her and she made sure everyone had plenty of great food to eat. She had a love for canvas painting, quilting, and learning, taking classes into her 80’s.
Her husband, Earl, of 60 years and her parents, precedes her in death. She is survived by their five children; Rebecca and Gary Loving of Shawnee, Randy and Kim Grinnell of Edmond, Richie Grinnell of Meeker, Roxann Grinnell of Shawnee, Ron and Lesli Grinnell of Stuart; Twenty grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.
Chapel services under the direction of Walker Funeral Service are scheduled for Wednesday, July 29 at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Odus Compton officiating. A visitation for family and friends will be held on July 29th at 4:00 p.m. at the Sirloin Stockade, 2825 N. Summit St. in Arkansas City, KS. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army of Shawnee, OK.