Joan's funeral service will be Thursday at 2 pm at Mallett Funeral Home Chapel in Wagoner.

Viewing will be Tuesday from 2 - 5 pm and Wednesday from 9 am - 7 pm. The Visitation will be from 5 - 7 pm on Wednesday evening.

Joan (Steeley) Smith was born September 8, 1943 in Lost City, OK to Arthur Ray "Ott" and Jewel Dene (Moore) Steeley. Her childhood was a happy one, with many hours spent exploring nature and playing and sharing chores with her siblings, Bettie, R.C. and Sharon. It was during this time that she learned to love the outdoors. This carried over throughout her life; she loved being in her flower beds or sitting on her porch watching the birds.

After high school graduation Joan attended Northeastern State College. She became a teacher and eventually attained her Master's degree. Joan loved children and thrived on teaching. Her first position was at Okay, OK where she taught 6 ^th grade for ten years. After that she came to Wagoner Public Schools. In the beginning she served as the Indian Counselor, but soon went back to the classroom, where she could interact with more students while teaching 1 ^st and 3 ^rd grades.

Her family will remember her as the hardest worker they ever knew. Through the years Joan additionally worked at Myrna's, Baker's Catfish Restaurant and Sullivan Hardware. Her loved ones will also miss her excellent cooking skills. Even growing up Joan was the official fudge maker in her family. She loved to bake and would bake Bruce a German chocolate cake every year on his birthday. Her skills even extended to canning.

Joan departed this life Sunday morning, December 26, 2021 in Bartlesville, OK at the age of 78 years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Lee "Buttermilk" Smith in 1980; her parents, Ott and Jewel Steeley; an infant sister, Marsha Dee Steeley and a brother-in-law, Larry Lynn King.

Left to cherish her memory are her son and daughter-in-law, Bruce Lee and Teresa Smith; her grandson and his wife, Bryce Lee and Tobi Smith; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Mayzie Smith, all of Wagoner, Oklahoma; siblings, Bettie Jo King of Des Moines, Iowa, R.C. and Beverly Steeley of Coweta, Oklahoma and Sharon Kay and Terry Hornbuckle of Wagoner, Oklahoma; a number of nieces and nephews; other extended family and friends.