Joan Karen Staton

Joan Karen Staton LAWTON, Okla. - On Jan. 29, 2009, God lifted her up and out of this life and into his arms and eternal life. A funeral for Joan Karen Staton, 65, of Lawton, will be at Bethlehem Baptist Church at 10 a.m. Tuesday with Willie Smith, Bethlehem Baptist Church, Oklahoma, officiating. Burial will be in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Okla., under the direction of Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home. Friends may call from noon to 6 p.m. Monday in the Lawton Ritter Gray Funeral Home Chapel. Joan was born April 10, 1943, in Norfolk, the youngest of two daughters to Joseph Roman Lee and Elouise Taylor. She was a product of the Norfolk school system, graduating from Booker T. Washington High School and Norfolk State University. She taught school in Chesapeake, Norfolk and Virginia Beach and Lawton, Okla. She married Willie Grey Staton on April 10, 1967 in Norfolk. She traveled with her husband as his military career dictated with postings at Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Polk, La., Gelnhausen and Augsburg, Germany, and Fort Sill, Okla., on several occasions. From this union with Willie were born three children: Brian Christopher, Krista Noel and Adrienne Michelle and ultimately four grandchildren: Kallen Andrew, Taryn Bree, Devin Grey and Lane Alexander. She continued her career as a librarian and medical training technician in Augsburg, Germany, and as a property book technician in the property book section of the Directorate of Logistics at Fort Sill until her retirement. She was a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church where she sang in the choir and was a member of the missionary circle and the salt ministry. Survivors include her husband, Willie, and daughter, Adrienne of the home; son, Brian and wife Laurie; grandsons, Devin and Lane, all of Katy, Texas; daughter, Krista Clavon and grandchildren Kallen and Taryn of Lawton; her mother, Elouise and sister, Joyce Vann, both of Norfolk; three sisters-in-law: June Brunham and Della Munden of Norfolk and Othelia Perry of Elizabeth City, N.C.; many nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph R. Lee and in-laws, Della and Alexander Staton. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1320 Homestead Drive, Suite D, Lawton, OK 73505. An online guestbook and sympathy cards are available at GrayFuneral.com.