Joan Gannaway Abney

Marion Joan (Ester) Gannaway Abney was born April 3, 1936 in Atlanta, GA to Everett Ernest Ester and Marion (Roberts) Ester.  Surrounded by family she passed from this life on February 14, 2019 at the age of 82.

Joan spent her younger years in Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, and then finally settling in Oklahoma where her parents moved during her college years. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in art education, she moved to Tulsa where she started her career as an art teacher in the Tulsa Public Schools. Throughout her life, she was involved with various organizations and gave countless hours to church missions with First United Methodist Church, including trips to Bolivia, Israel, and Thailand. She also had a desire to see the world and traveled every chance she got. She was passionate about music, having played the piano nearly all her life and being an active member in the church choir. Joan also loved the outdoors, spending much of her time gardening, bird watching and enjoying nature.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Charles B. Gannaway, III; and her sister, Charlotte Lucile (Vester) Taylor.  She is survived by her husband, Macs Abney; her sons and their wives, Charles Everett & Staci Gannaway and Roberts Burrell & Ilene Gannaway; her daughter and her husband, Amanda Moffett & Ron VanCura; and her grandchildren, Connor, Landon, Nicholas, Jacob, Hadley and Brighton.

Joan will lie in state 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 19 at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 5-7 p.m.  A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 20 at First United Methodist Church, 1115 S. Boulder and she will be laid to rest at Memorial Park Mausoleum.

Donations in Joan's memory may be made to the John 3:16 Mission, 506 N. Cheyenne Ave, Tulsa, OK 74103.