Joan Forrest Blakely was born September 29, 1930, at Vassar Brothers Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY. Daughter of William and Mildred Forrest, she graduated from Arlington High School in 1948. Following graduation, she started work at De Laval Dairy Equipment as an office worker. She met John Blakely, and they were married in March 1956.
The newlyweds relocated to Oklahoma where Joan worked for a time at the University of Oklahoma Press while John attended OU. After graduation they moved to Tulsa. There Joan became an active member of the Tulsa County Registered Pharmacists Auxiliary, eventually becoming president. Oklahoma friends appreciated that she brought her "yankee" sense of humor and accent to Tulsa.
Family was an important part of Joan's life, and she was devoted to raising her two sons, Forrest and David, as well as her grandchildren, April Blakely and Kristin Braden. Joan lived in her home on 56th street for over 55 years and took great joy in hosting family for holidays and pool parties.
Ice skating with her brothers was a favorite childhood pastime. In high school she played guard on the varsity women's basketball team. She was a long-time supporter of the Memorial High School Band Booster Club. Later in life she joined her granddaughters in learning Taekwondo. Joan enjoyed traveling whether it be within the US to places like The Outer Banks, The Grand Canyon, and Hawaii, or international destinations like Spain where she developed a love of Spanish cuisine. She was an avid fan of OU football and enjoyed watching westerns.
Joan died Saturday, March 29, 2025, at St. Simeon's Senior Community after a short illness. She was predeceased by her parents, her brothers, her son Forrest Blakely and her husband John. Joan is survived by her brother-in-law Thomas Blakely, and sister-in-law Janice Blakely, her son David Blakely and her daughters-in-law Lesley McCollough and LuAnn Blakely. She is also survived by 6 grandchildren: April Blakely, Jessica Trehy, Kristin Braden, Amy Blakely, Quinn Blakely, Knox Blakely, and 11 great-grandchildren. She will be buried at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations could be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.