Funeral service for Joanna Mae Russell will be at 2 p.m., Wed., May 30, Chelsea Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Richard Billings officiating. Burial will follow at Chelsea Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the funeral home Wed. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Joanna died Friday, May 25, 2012, at St. Francis Hospital at the age of 73.
The daughter of Guss McBride and Juanita Mae (Cochran) Russell was born Oct. 5, 1938, in Chelsea. She graduated from Chelsea High School in 1956, and continued her education at Northeastern A and M at Miami, OK. Joanna worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Hillcrest Hospital and at Doctor’s Hospital in Tulsa, and Claremore Regional Hospital. Joanna cared deeply for her patients and their families. In retirement, we could not go many places without running into a “family or friend” from her past.
She was adventurous, traveling throughout the nation, by bus or automobile. Attending rodeo’s and western events while fishing area lakes were her enjoyment. After retirement, you could often see Joanna and Mom on highway 66 headed to Claremore or Chelsea! She and mom were close and enjoyed many actives together.
Joanna was given a ride on a vintage Vietnam helicopter a few year back. That ride was something she talked about too all! She was very proud of her Cherokee heritage and closely followed the activates of the Cherokee Tribe. She was friends of her Wilma Mankiller and Mrs. Naomi Cowan of the CYC nation. Her Cherokee heritage allowed her to become an active member of the Pocahontas Club. Chelsea was “home” and Joanna took great pride in that fact. Joanna’s family and friends, especially Chelsea folks, were very important to her.
Joanna was preceded in death by her father, Guss in 1996; and sister, Patsy Haynes and her husband, Jerry.
She is survived by her mother, Juanita Mae Russell; brother, Jim L. Russell and wife, Debbie; nieces and nephews: Russell Haynes, Jim N. Russell, Carrie Hudnall, Stephanie Shupper, and Dawn Zindler - and Great nephews Andrew, Ben, Jackson and the “Bradster” and caregiver, Patti Birge.