Joy Melson Reid

1935 - 2021

Joy Melson Reid
Bartlesville - Joy Melson Reid, 85 years old, of Bartlesville, passed away on Feb. 3, 2021 at Bartlesville Assisted Living. Joy was born in Pickton, Texas on June 3rd, 1935 and spent her childhood in the Sulphur Springs area. The family later moved to Muleshoe, Texas where Joy and her twin sister, Dorothy, graduated from high school. After attending secretarial school in Lubbock, Texas Joy moved to Wichita Falls where she worked at McClurken's department store. It was in Wichita Falls that she met the love of her life, Gary Reid, Jr. They were married September 25th, 1955 in Muleshoe, Texas and were happily married for 62 years until Gary passed away on March 17th, 2017.
In 1964 Gary was transferred by Phillips Petroleum Co. to Bartlesville, Oklahoma where they made their home. Joy worked for several years in the orthodontist office of Dr. Joe Hardin and then many years at the front desk in the dental offices of Dr. Wood and Whistler. Her daughter often marveled at all the Christmas cards her mother received each year from families Joy had come to know through their visits to the dental office. She was a bright light in the community and a strong and steady light for her family.
Joy is survived by her daughter, Melinda Reid, her husband Charlie Tebbetts, and grandson, Walter Tebbetts of Amherst, MA, her twin sister Dorothy Rose of Burnet, TX, and her sister-in-law Bonnie Perkins of Roanoke, VA. Joy was also a beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews who treasured and depended on her unconditional love, her infectious laugh, and her undying kindness. She was dearly loved by her grandson Walter, who treasured her warmth, love and the fun she brought to every day. She was preceded in death by her parents William Ticer and Moyna Melson and her sister Brenda Hines.
In this year of pandemic isolation Joy's constant companion and caregiver Kathy Short gave her a bridge to the outside world through daily FaceTime calls to her daughter Melinda and others. The family would also like to thank the staff of Bartlesville Assisted Living for providing a warm and caring home, the caring and hard-working nurses of Kindful Hospice, her friend, Sandy Jay, who always kept in touch, and her niece, Phyllis Nicholson, who was always ready to do an errand or just listen when she needed to talk.
A private family memorial service will be held later. Cremation under the direction of Stumpff Funeral Home and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kindful Hospice of Oklahoma.