JoAnn (Hickle) Carpenter passed away Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023 at the age of 88, in her home, in Yukon, Oklahoma, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on July 30, 1934, in Shamrock, Oklahoma, to Virgil E. Hickle and Thelma L. (Earp) Hickle.
JoAnn traveled the country, living in many different states until the age of 12, where she and her sister went to live on the farm with their grandparents in Stroud, Oklahoma. She attended Stroud Public Schools and graduated from Stroud High School in 1952.
JoAnn met her future husband, Paul F. Carpenter, Jr., of Stroud, at the Rock Café on historic Route 66 in Stroud. They were married Nov. 14, 1952, at the Stroud United Methodist Church and resided in Stroud until April 30, 1960. On May 1, 1960, the couple and their three children moved to Yukon after buying the Oklahoma Tire & Supply Company store. The store is now Carpenter’s ACE Hardware and is still a family owned and operated business for nearly 63 years.
JoAnn worked in the store with Paul until she retired from the family business in 1980 due to illness. After retiring, JoAnn enjoyed cooking, baking and taking excellent care of her family.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents of Stroud; her husband of 54 years, Paul Jr. of Yukon; her sister, Irene Ashley of Sallisaw; and her youngest son, Tom Carpenter of Yukon. She is survived by her son, Paul III, known as Buddy, and his wife, Judy, of Yukon; her daughter, Chris Ann Lee of Yukon; and her daughter-in- law, Sheri Carpenter of El Reno. JoAnn is also survived by four grandchildren – Holly Jones of Bradenton, Florida, Jaime Wilson of Yukon, Kali Ann Carpenter of Yukon and Dr. Karla Jo Grellner of Yukon. She has four great grandchildren, Tristan and Ashlyn Jones of Bradenton, Florida; and Jaxon and Kaden Paul Wilson of Yukon.
A visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, where the family will receive friends at the Yanda & Son Funeral Home in Yukon. Celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church of Yukon, with interment following at the Yukon Cemetery, Yukon, Oklahoma.
Online condolences may be signed at www.yandafuneral.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Yanda & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Yukon, Oklahoma.
