Johnette Stevens Rountree

With deep honor and love, our family announces the passing of Johnette Stevens Rountree on January 30, 2026, at the age of 88. She went peacefully into the arms of our Heavenly Father, surrounded by her family.

Johnette was born on August 29, 1937, to Johnny and Sis (Bradshaw) Stevens. She was always proud to be the descendant of two original Osage allottees: John Stevens and Scott Bradshaw. She lived with her parents and little brother, Brad, on the Stevens farm west of Skiatook, where she enjoyed a wonderful childhood living near her grandparents and extended family. She grew up with her cousins, Butch and John Reynolds, who were like brothers to her. The children attended Lakeview School, a one-room school west of Skiatook. She later attended Skiatook schools and graduated Skiatook High School with the notorious class of 1955.

Growing up, her name was spelled "Jonett," until she got her first job and learned it had been written as "Johnette" on her birth certificate. After high school, Johnette studied music at the University of Tulsa and went to work at McDonnell Douglas Aircraft where she met her husband, Dale Jones. They were married in 1957 and had three children, Jeff, Jay, and Jill, who were raised at the Jones family property on South John Zink Street in Skiatook. Motherhood was her calling and she was fiercely committed to her children, and later, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who all brought her immense joy. She loved and supported all her children unwaveringly and was proud of all their accomplishments.

Family and faith were the foundations of Johnette's life. She was very close with her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and extended family, and was proud of her ancestral legacy. Sadly, the tight-knit Stevens family endured the tragic loss of her brother (Brad Stevens) in 1958 at age 18 in a hunting accident, and then her mother (Sis Stevens) in 1971. As her own family grew, she filled the special role of matriarch. She often talked about her ancestors and made sure her current family knew the history and traditions handed down over generations. Johnette was proud of her Osage culture, and later in life, she and her family worked hard to prepare for the Inlonschka each June. One of her greatest joys was watching her son and great-grandson enter the dance. She quickly looked forward to each June and found so much joy in watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren embrace their Osage traditions. She was so proud of her family and cherished every moment spent together.

Johnette was known to everyone as "Granny." She liked to re-create activities her grandmother did with the family, such as Easter picnics on the Osage land by Skiatook Lake and Memorial Day gatherings at Hillside. The family fondly remembers annual gatherings at the lake house for Granny's birthday weekend each August, which always included an overnight stay with everyone in the house together talking and laughing until late into the night, breakfast the next morning, and an afternoon cookout with lots of delicious food, laughter, and the joy of being together. Granny had an unassuming sense of humor in her life, loved to laugh, and was well-practiced in playing small practical jokes while keeping a straight face. She passed down her wit and sense of humor to all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Johnette was an accomplished pianist and organist who began playing at an early age on her grandparents' Steinway grand piano at the farm. Music was always part of her life. She taught piano lessons, worked with the choir and band programs at Skiatook schools, accompanied soloists, and played piano and organ at church and many other outlets. Johnette was active in the Skiatook Methodist Church, Ascension Church, Skiatook Presbyterian church, Hominy Friends Church, and Hominy Methodist church. She played the piano and organ for many years for church services, and her enthusiasm for music was passed down to her children and grandchildren. The family has fond memories of annual Christmas celebrations where she played "Sleigh Ride" on the piano, accompanied by a raucous scattering of instruments she provided for the children, like tambourines, shakers, drumsticks, and bells so everyone could join in.

Johnette loved to travel, and she and Dale took their children all over the country visiting relatives. Her favorite vacation of all was the yearly August camping trip to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. She loved the mountains, exploring, fishing, and cooking over a campfire (her biscuits in a Dutch oven were legendary). She took the opportunity to camp anytime she could go. Her last trip to Colorado in 2024 was an entertaining family vacation filled with lots of laughs and exploring. Johnette's faith was an enduring and constant factor in every part of her life, which she shared with her family and many others. She is an example of a life lived with honor, integrity, character, and dignity.

In 2000, Johnette married Richard "Dick" Rountree, with whom she shared many joyous years living at their home on Skiatook Lake. Johnette and Dick had known each other as children growing up west of Skiatook and reunited later in life to build a loving marriage and life together. She described her time with Dick as "the best of the good years" of her life. They traveled together, tended their garden and flowers, enjoyed nature on their property, hosted many family gatherings, and lived a happy contented life in the area where they had both been raised.

Throughout her life, Johnette had many interests and was very active in the community where she was well-known for her cooking and baking. She loved finding new recipes, cooking for her family, and organizing lunches at the church. She was active at the Skiatook Museum and Hillside Cemetery Association, where she helped communicate and preserve history. She was an encyclopedia of Skiatook history. She was loved by many people, including her dear friends, Benita Collier and Debbie Meeks, as well as many other friends and family.

Johnette is survived by her children Jeff Jones, Jay (Liz) Jones, Jill Jones (David Ray); grandchildren Jann (Brad) Hayman, Joni (Ross) Hall; Brad (Amanda) Jones, Matt Jones, Sarah (Sam) Salcedo; great-grandchildren Jerry Jones, Blythe Hall, Diesel Hall, Haidyn Jones, Jennifer Johnson, Abbie Johnson, Blake Hayman, and Jacob Hayman; Teri and Rick Moore; along with many extended family members and cherished friends.