Joyce Marie Fannon-Nelson

Memorial service for Joyce Nelson will be 1:00p.m., Friday, July 26, 2024, at Asbury Church, in Tulsa. Joyce passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2024. She was 85. 

Joyce Marie Fannon-Nelson was born on April 25, 1939, in Sayre, Oklahoma to Earle Edison and Willie Mae (Saxton) Fannon, she was one of 5 children. She grew up in western Oklahoma on a farm in the Berlin community. Education played a significant role in Joyce's life journey. She graduated from Berlin High School in 1958 where she excelled as a standout basketball player, averaging 29 points her senior year and going to the Oklahoma State tournament with her team mates. Joyce scored 36 points in her last college game at Oklahoma Baptist University. Continuing her academic pursuits, Joyce studied home economics at Cameron State Agricultural College. She married Marvin Nelson during her senior year of high school. Together they raised 3 children, Kathy, Mary, and Doug.

Joyce led a remarkable life filled with passion and dedication to various pursuits. A self-taught horse and cattle rancher, Joyce's journey in the ranching world began in 1976 when she started working at a cattle and horse ranch in Oklahoma City. This experience sparked a deep love for ranching which eventually led her to establish her own cattle ranch in Hunter, Oklahoma, the J Bar M Angus Ranch. Joyce's involvement extended beyond her own ranch she served as the secretary fieldsman for the Oklahoma Angus Association for many years, where she diligently published a monthly newsletter and traveled across the United States contributing to the cattle industry. She was also the first woman to be elected to the Oklahoma Angus Association Board and was later hired as the CEO of the board. Joyce's deep love of riding extended to her friends and she participated in trail rides with them through the years. On her 60th birthday was celebrated with a three day event of camping, tail riding and friendship.

In addition to her achievements in ranching, Joyce pursued other interests throughout her life. She obtained her real estate license in 2001 while residing in Grove and went on to open and manage a dress shop and bed and breakfast in the same town. An individual of diverse talents, Joyce embraced new opportunities with unwavering enthusiasm. She was actively involved with the Sistersonthefly, a national organization created in Phoenix, Arizona, Joyce's membership is number 390, out of over 24000 members. Joyce hosted a SOTF trip for 65 ladies and their trailers to the 2011 Albuquerque, NM balloon festival and another one at Cedar Oakes in Grove, OK.

Joyce had a profound love for travel and animals, particularly her special horses named Queenie, Ace, and Bayboy. She enjoyed camping, trail riding, and exploring different corners of the country during her retirement years spent in Grove, Owasso, Branson, Arizona, Catoosa, and Tulsa. Her children and grandchildren helped in each of those moves she made. The adventures Joyce had through the years were filled with many friendships that she maintained throughout her life. She also maintained a membership and was active with a Methodist Church in each community she lived in.

She is survived by her children Doug Nelson and his wife Kayce and Mary Beth Nelson, grandchildren Teka Brown (Shawn), Karson Marsh (Sierra), Kally Ball (Ryan), Baylor Nelson; Addison Nelson; Kenlee Steele; Reese Nelson; Morgan White (Kevin); great-grandchildren Elaina, Korbin, Keeley, Kaden, Walker, Tucker, Blair, Bennett, Briggs. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents Earle and Willie Fannon, her daughter Kathy Marsh along with son-in-law Glenn Marsh, and her siblings Doyle, Bob, Earlene, and Kay.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to Lincoln Christian School, check memo to say LCS livestream. Mail to Lincoln Christian School, 1003 North 129th East Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74116 or electronic donations: https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/G8GVKS.

The service will be lived streamed, the link is: asbury6767.online.church.