Stillwater, OK - Stillwater resident Joan Elizabeth Blankinship, 78, passed away Tuesday, October 21, 2025 in Drumright, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of the arrangements.

Joan was born March 30, 1947 in Cushing, Oklahoma to Oscar Clark Amey and Nelma Juanita (Patterson) Amey. She graduated from Ripley High School in 1965. Joan attended Oklahoma State University before graduating from The Catholic School of Nursing in 1969. She married Roy Blankinship on September 11, 1969. She began her nursing career at Stillwater Hospital where she was instrumental in opening the first Intensive Care Unit in Stillwater. Joan then worked for the next 28 years as a surgical nurse for Dr. Cary Couch. She then returned to work for Stillwater Hospital and retired in 2011.

Her hobbies and enjoyments included gardening, crossword puzzles, reading, caring for her family, chasing cows, and volunteering at the Karman Korner Resale Shop.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a stepmother, Claira Backhaus Amey, a stepfather, Wayne Johnson, and two brothers, Lynn Amey and Eldon Amey.

Survivors include her husband, Roy Blankinship of the home, 2 sons, Paul Blankinship and wife Heather of Stillwater, and Chris Blankinship and wife Jenniffer of Stillwater, 5 grandchildren, Andrew, Hannah, Madison, Tyler, and Chloe Blankinship, 2 brothers, Robert and Neal Amey, a sister, Jean Hite, and numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be made to Karman Korner Resale Shop (819 S. Main St., Stillwater, OK 74074).

The family would like to thank the Drumright Regional Hospital, Luminous Hospice, Stillwater Medical Center, and care giver Brenda Crane for their exceptional care.

Condolences may be emailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.