Joan Foreman

Joan Downing Foreman, 83, of Oaks, Oklahoma, passed away February 19, 2025.

Joan was born January 22, 1942, in Claremore, Oklahoma, to the late Joseph and Hattie Leach Downing. 

In 1959, she met the love of her life, Houston Foreman. They spent 52 years together until God called Mr. Foreman home in July of 2011.

Joan was quick-witted and had love for everyone. She was the mother to many and always made everyone feel welcome in her home. She was a tradition keeper for her tribe, United Keetoowah Band. She spoke Cherokee fluently and took pride in her heritage through her handmade Native American Crafts. Keychains and lanyards being her favorite crafts to make. If any of her grandchildren had a ballgame of any kind, you could bet that she was there cheering them on. She loved to cook for anyone that came to her house. She was always ready to share her biscuits and gravy and her famous hot bread. 

She was Baptist in faith and was baptized at Little Rock Baptist Church in Oklahoma.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Hattie Downing, her husband, Houston Foreman, two sisters, Peggy Jackson and Mary Foreman; three brothers, Roy, Clarence, and Robert Downing, one son in law, Russell VanBuskirk, and a daughter in law, Holly Barnes.

Those left to cherish her memory include her five children, Willie "Bo" Jackson and his wife, Karen of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Marcella Foreman of Oaks, Oklahoma, Alan Foreman and his wife, Barbara of Kansas, Oklahoma, Travis Foreman and his wife, Felicia of Oaks, Oklahoma and Trampis Foreman of Oaks, Oklahoma; 17 grandchildren, Chasilee VanBuskirk of Yellow Springs, Ohio, Josiah VanBuskirk of Glenpool, Oklahoma, Tanisa Foreman and her husband, Jimmy of Oaks, Oklahoma, Brianna and wife, Jessica Soldier of Kansas, Oklahoma, Rachel Dew-Falcon and her husband, Mikey of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Peggy Caldwell of Ardmore, Oklahoma, John Henry VanBuskirk of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Jacob Foreman of Oaks, Oklahoma, Kimberly Fine and her husband, Chase of Kansas, Oklahoma, Chad Foreman and his wife , Myranda of Tahlequah, Oklahoma, Jerrid Foreman and his wife Summer, of Kansas, Oklahoma, Allyson Foreman and fiancé, Logan of Oaks, Oklahoma, Arielle Foreman of Oaks, Oklahoma, Kianna Foreman of Kansas, Oklahoma, Jay Gilley, Brandy Stopp, and Travis Houston Foreman, Jr.; 35 great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; her siblings, Naomi Blue Back of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Nora "Sista" Day of Washington, D.C., and Louisa Soap of Locust Grove, Oklahoma; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends and loved ones.

There will be a viewing Thursday, February 27, 2025, from 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM, at Hart Funeral Home in Tahlequah.

Funeral services will be Friday, February 28, 2025, 11:00 AM, at Snake Creek Baptist Church in Locust Grove. Burial will follow at Russell-Double Springs Cemetery in Oaks.