JoAnne Bottomley

Bottomley, JoAnne, 78, died Friday, January 24, 2025. JoAnne was born in Des Moines, IA, October 6, 1946, to Ambrose Ross & Elizabeth (Clipson) Hunt. The family moved to Oklahoma and settled in Tulsa where her father worked as a printer for the Newspaper Printing Corporation. JoAnne was a 1964 graduate of Hale High School and attended Oklahoma State University earning her Associate Degree in Office/Business Administration. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. She went to work for the Texaco Tulsa Refinery and soon met Jim, a Chemical Engineer, who was working at the Sun Tulsa Refinery. They went ice skating at the Tulsa Fairgrounds on a blind date. It was 1968, and their love was the real thing. Things happened fast, and Jim got drafted six months after they met. He left for basic training, and on his return they were married in October 1968. They immediately left for Alaska where Jim was posted at Ft. Greeley for 2 years. Not to be deterred, JoAnne got a job as Secretary for the Colonel at the Northern Warfare Training Center. After Jim's service, they moved back to Tulsa. JoAnne was never one to sit still for very long. She went back to school, graduated from the University of Tulsa with her degree in Sociology. After graduation, she worked for the Southwestern Power Administration until her children came along. The community of Sapulpa and Tulsa are the beneficiaries of her many volunteer activities. In addition to being a full-time Mom, she was a Cubmaster for her sons' elementary school. She organized summer day camps for Sapulpa students. She held leadership positions with the Sapulpa Arts and received the Governor's Community Service Award in 1999. She was a Life Member and past President of the Tulsa and Sapulpa Branches of the American Association of University Women, a Board Member of Oklahoma Arts Institute, PEO member and a Tulsa Zoo Docent for 25 years. She was also a supporter of The Tulsa Ballet. In addition to all of this, she was co-founder of Women Empowered, a charitable organization formed to facilitate helping women obtain education opportunities they might have missed out on earlier in their lives. JoAnne and Jim loved travelling and have visited over 30 countries from bicycling through Morocco and Ireland to riding the Katy Trail in Missouri with the Sierra Club. Recently, she loved going to the Health Zone at St. Francis and working with her Trainer, Peggy Harton, and flirting with the men. She is survived by her husband, James (Jim), and two sons, David Bottomley, his wife, Deana of Colorado Springs, soon to be Oklahoma City, OK, Dwight Bottomley, his wife, Karin Westerberg of Halmstad, Sweden, 2 grandchildren, Melvin & Elliot Bottomley of Halmstad, Sweden. Also, she is survived by her sister, Susan Hunt, of Rockville Maryland. There will be a private family service at a later date. In JoAnne's memory and in lieu of flowers, a donation to the Women Empowered Scholarship Account at Tulsa Community Foundation Attention; Jenny Stainopoulos, would be greatly appreciated. Moore Southlawn 918-663-2233

JoAnne Bottomley

October 6, 1946 - January 24, 2025