Stillwater, OK - Johna Joy Williams entered heaven peacefully on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 14, 2025 at the Highland Park United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Fairlawn Cemetery. The family encourages everyone attending the service to wear orange and black.

Johna was born as the youngest daughter of John and Olive Breckenridge on June 8, 1936 in Cushing, Oklahoma. She spent most of her childhood in Durant, Oklahoma. She enjoyed walking down to the movie theater, paying a dime, and staying for the entire day. Her senior year, she moved to Oklahoma City, where she graduated from Classen High School. She was very involved in her church youth groups in both Durant and OKC and remained close to those friends throughout her life. She also sang in school and church choirs. Many of her summers were spent camping and fishing with her Aunt Ruby and Uncle Jack.

She attended Southeastern University and graduated from Oklahoma State University (then Oklahoma A&M) with a degree in business education. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. It was during this time that her love of Oklahoma State began.

After moving to Las Cruces, New Mexico, to be near her sister, Louemma Brookey, she earned a master's degree from New Mexico State University. While there, she attended St. Paul United Methodist church. She was calling to invite visitors to her Sunday School class and called her future husband Ervin. Their friendship developed into love and then a wonderful marriage of 39 years. In Las Cruces, their family grew as she gave birth to a son, and then to twin daughters.

Johna and family moved back to Stillwater in 1969. She was active in the community and was a pillar of Highland Park United Methodist Church. While she loved all OSU sports, she especially looked forward with a heightened expectation to fall Saturdays with a home football game. She would cook and host large meals for family and friends coming to the games. It was a time for genuine fellowship.

Johna was employed as a high school teacher in New Mexico and as a library assistant in the Stillwater Junior High school. She was a devoted and valued volunteer to many organizations ranging from United Methodist Women to band parents. Later, she served as an ambassador for the Primrose retirement community.

Her love language was baking for her family and friends. All the grandchildren have stories of cooking with Grandma, some of the favorites were pink cookies, pink salad, and pie crust surprises. She was always the storyteller and made everyone smile with her jokes and riddles. She was our family's biggest cheerleader, as she tactfully, but unapologetically, shared the latest news and accomplishments about her children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews with anyone who would listen.

As a beautiful wife, mom, grandmother, sister, daughter, aunt, and friend, she personified her middle name Joy, radiating it to everyone she encountered. She always put others first, had a heart of service and loved all. Each and every day she made the world a better place for others.

Johna is survived by her son, Gerald Williams and wife Shellie of Glendale, AZ, twin daughter Marilyn Crynes and husband Stephen of Murphy, TX, twin daughter Carolyn Magee and husband David of Allen, TX, granddaughter Aleesha Williams of Los Angeles, CA, granddaughter Aubrey Crynes of Oklahoma City, OK, grandson Elliot Crynes and wife Anna of Boone, NC, grandson Matthew Magee and wife Ashley of El Paso, TX, grandson Andrew Magee and wife Kenna of Richardson, TX and granddaughter Jennifer Joy Magee of Allen, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews. Johna was preceded in death by her husband Ervin Williams, Jr., sister Mary Margaret Beard, sister Louemma Brookey, nephew Hershel Beard and niece Jane Papke.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to Highland Park United Methodist Church, 524 N. Stallard, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74075. Make checks payable to Highland Park United Methodist Church.