Joyce Ann McCall

Joyce Ann McCall, 82, passed away on Friday, December 19, 2025, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She was born on April 23, 1943, in Pryor, Oklahoma, to Loy and Valena Cragar. Joyce graduated from Tahlequah Senior High School in 1960 and later earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Elementary Education from Northeastern Oklahoma State University.
Joyce will be remembered by her family as a woman of extraordinary selflessness, kindness, patience, tireless energy and love. She was always the last to sit at the table, making sure everyone else was cared for first. Throughout her life, she devoted herself to the well being of her family, customers, and students. With a steadfast sense of adventure, she loved exploring new places and trying new things, especially camping trips shared with family and friends. A gifted cook, she perfected the art of preparing a full week of exceptional meals for off grid camping - an act of love as much as skill.
Joyce dedicated much of her professional life to elementary education, teaching at Keys Elementary School and Cherokee Nation Tsaligi Head Start. She took immense pride in her students' accomplishments and was a fierce advocate for children with learning challenges, helping each one discover their own path to success. A devoted partner in both life and work, she spent many years alongside her husband operating family businesses, including McCall's Minuteman Foods and the Thompson and Dream Theaters. True to her boundless energy, she later worked at Walmart in Tahlequah while continuing to teach.
Joyce found deep comfort in her faith, and her family is comforted by the fact that she is now with her Lord. She is survived by her devoted husband of 61 years, Lloyd Ray. Their relationship was a rare and enduring love, reflected in the constant respect, gentleness, and the laughter they shared.
She is also survived by her sons, Wesley and his wife Reyna, Ronald and his wife Christie; and her beloved grandchildren Brodie, Reagan, and Teagan; her brother Gerald Cragar and his wife Mary; her sister Janice Dreadfulwater and her husband Jimmy, her sister-in-law Sharon Cragar, her sister in law Janice Ogle; her brother in law Robert McCall; her sister in law Phyllis Brooks; and her brother in law Larry and his wife Deana. She leaves behind many nieces and nephews, including Scott Cragar, Gene Wesley Cragar, Lisa Rudek Angela Sherron, Mark Dreadfulwater, Kirsten Potts, Megan Paschen, Marsha Humphreys, Stephen Ogle, Catherine Colvin, Jonathan McCall, Krisstyn Ryals, Kimberly Pyatt, Jeremy McCall, Brant McCall, Ashton Crawford, and numerous great nieces and great nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Loy and Valena Cragar, her sister Carol Louise, her brother Gene, her father in law Lloyd McCall, her mother in law Florence McCall, her brother in law Keith McCall, and her brother in law Gary McCall.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, at Green Country Funeral Home. A celebration of Joyce's life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Green Country Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Tahlequah City Cemetery.