1931
Johnetta
2022
Johnetta Grace Talley
May 21, 1931 — December 10, 2022
Retired Anadarko businesswoman, homemaker and matriarch to a big family that includes nearly a hundred grandchildren, Johnetta Talley died Saturday, Dec. 10, at home, surrounded by family. She was 91.
Johnetta Grace Stalder was born in Anadarko, Okla., during the Great Depression to John and Ethel (Lankford) Stalder on May 21, 1931, the oldest of three siblings. Her dad worked at a bank to support his farming habit and taught his children the value of hard work and the essentials in free enterprise and personal integrity.
Johnetta grew up and married Max George Talley of Carnegie in 1950 when she was 19. Together their love produced five children (Jim, John, David, Randy and Terri), plus 37 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchidren and two great-great grandchildren.
She graduated from Anadarko High School in 1949 and attended the Oklahoma College for Women (now Science & Arts) in Chickasha.
Together Max and Johnetta owned and managed a variety of businesses during their 61-year marriage, before his death in 2011. Johnetta worked as an employment counselor for the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs for three decades, and then retired to run a Christian bookstore (The Sea of Galilee) and restaurant (The Ark) with Max in the 1980s.
As a working mom, she searched for meaning and purpose. An amateur genealogist, Johnetta researched her family tree back more than 800 years for great men and women. She found "no big heros," she said, "but this quest cemented my conviction that only a legacy in Christ Jesus, not earthly achievements, really matters."
It was in January 1964, after searching the Bible for answers to her questions about life that Johnetta met the living Christ as "He almost literally emerged from the pages of the Scripture to awaken me spiritually," she said in a biography. "Read Ephesians 1 to learn about that mystery!" she said.
Her decision to forego all other pursuits in search of knowing Christ more fully led to a life-changing passion for shar�ing Christ with others. Since her rebirth in Christ, Johnetta shared Jesus with her children and grandchildren and anyone who would stand still. For more than five decades, she taught Sunday School, as well as Bible studies at Riverside Indian School and the Caddo County Jail. She believes the Bible is the foundation for living (1 Tim. 3:16) and knowing God (Psalm 119). Her prayer for everyone she meets is that they grow in "spiritual insight and the knowl�edge of God" (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Max came to Christ in a miraculous way in 1973 and together they served the Lord for 38 years before his passing. Together their most notable ministry was hospitality as they hosted Sunday dinner for family and many invited guests for nearly 50 years, including a dozen foster children and others who were "adopted."
She loved adventures with her children and grandchildren. She was the first to volunteer for rollercoasters and parasailing, paddle-boating and go-karts.
In 2020, she wrote an illustrated children's book, Jesus the Real Super Hero, for her grandchildren and friends. Copies are available from family.
Max and Johnetta loved travel and together they visited most of her grandchildren in different states, along with excursions with the Lions Club and church groups. While studying genealogy, she found some Stalder relatives in Switzerland and hopped on a plane with her daughter, Terri, to visit them after her 85th birthday. During the pandemic, she visited Washington D.C. and joined in a prayer rally on the Capitol Mall with more than 200,000 guests, praying for America.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John Stalder (1972) and Ethel Stalder (1964); her brother Bill Stalder (1986); her husband Max Talley (2011); a grandson, Jonathan Talley (2015); and her sister Betty Holt (2019).
She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Jim and Tina Talley of Anadarko, John and Caryl Talley of Stillwater, David and Jan Talley of Midwest City, Randy and Kathie Talley of Chickasha and Terri and Doug Hayworth of Anadarko.
Also surviving are her grandchildren (in birth order): Amy (and Rob) Choate of Little Elm, Texas; April (and Luke) Williamson of Ninnekah; Saul (and Mary Beth) Talley of Stillwater; Joel Michael (and Angie) Talley of San Antonio, Texas; GraceRuth (and Bryan) Willnerd of Unadilla, Neb.; Terra (and Barrett) Argo of Norman; James (and Erin) Talley of Norwick, Kan.; Justin (and Rachel) Talley of Norman; Susanna (and Anthony) Roberts of Mustang; Judah (and Amelia) Talley of Colorado Springs, Co.; Caroline (and Ryan) Essex of Tulsa; Josiah (and Holly) Talley of Orlando, Fla.; Benjamin Hayworth of Anadarko; Adrian Talley of Chickasha; Samuel Hayworth of Chickasha; Anna (and Robin) Nightingale of Wichita, Kan.; Hudson Talley of Oklahoma City; Justin (and Julie) Salazar of Midwest City; Stalder (and Heather) Talley of Ponca City; Matthew Hayworth of Grandview, Mo.; and Joel Reagan Talley of Chickasha.
Surviving great-grandchildren (in birth order) include Darron Choate, Susanna Blackburn, Geoffrey Choate, Moses Alvidrez, Phoebe Choate, Eyan Choate, Briauna Salazar, William Choate, Addy Talley, Shane Williamson, Tirzah Talley, Corban Talley, Emma Talley, Josey Choate, Natalie Salazar, Molly Williamson, Rayah Talley, Audrey Talley, Brigdon Talley, Ellen Williamson, Stran Talley, Ahava Talley, Benjamin Williamson, Silas Choate, Collin Talley, Leeanah Talley, Kamden Talley, Rylee Argo, Clara Williamson, Sawyer Talley, Elsie Talley, Camille Essex, James Roberts, Leedon Talley, Arthur Willnerd, Caleb Williamson, Andrew Roberts, Hollis Talley, Jude Hayworth, Kollev Talley, Suzanna Talley, Beckett Talley, EmmaLee Essex, Abigail Roberts, Ender Talley, Evelyn Talley, Reed Talley, Zoey Nightingale, Evangeline Talley, Adeline Essex, Zurich Talley, Jameson Talley, Michael Roberts, Juliette Talley, and Jonathan Nightingale. Surviving great-great grandchildren include newborns Noah Blackburn Jr. and Adrian Alvidrez.
She also is survived by nephews Tim, Jim and Jeff Johnson, and niece Debbie Kane.
In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to donate funds to Bethel Baptist Church in Anadarko, OSU Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Haystack Coffee (BCM) Ministry in Norman, or LifeChoices Chickasha.
Funeral Service: 1:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16, 2022
Bethel Baptist Church, Anadarko, OK
Interment: Friday, Dec. 16, 2022
Memory Lane Cemetery, Anadarko, OK
Visitation: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Wed., Dec. 14, 2022
9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Thur., Dec. 15, 2022
Ray and Martha's Funeral Home, Anadarko, OK
Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home
Anadarko, OK
Johnetta Grace Stalder was born in Anadarko, Okla., during the Great Depression to John and Ethel (Lankford) Stalder on May 21, 1931, the oldest of three siblings. Her dad worked at a bank to support his farming habit and taught his children the value of hard work and the essentials in free enterprise and personal integrity.
Johnetta grew up and married Max George Talley of Carnegie in 1950 when she was 19. Together their love produced five children (Jim, John, David, Randy and Terri), plus 37 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchidren and two great-great grandchildren.
She graduated from Anadarko High School in 1949 and attended the Oklahoma College for Women (now Science & Arts) in Chickasha.
Together Max and Johnetta owned and managed a variety of businesses during their 61-year marriage, before his death in 2011. Johnetta worked as an employment counselor for the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs for three decades, and then retired to run a Christian bookstore (The Sea of Galilee) and restaurant (The Ark) with Max in the 1980s.
As a working mom, she searched for meaning and purpose. An amateur genealogist, Johnetta researched her family tree back more than 800 years for great men and women. She found "no big heros," she said, "but this quest cemented my conviction that only a legacy in Christ Jesus, not earthly achievements, really matters."
It was in January 1964, after searching the Bible for answers to her questions about life that Johnetta met the living Christ as "He almost literally emerged from the pages of the Scripture to awaken me spiritually," she said in a biography. "Read Ephesians 1 to learn about that mystery!" she said.
Her decision to forego all other pursuits in search of knowing Christ more fully led to a life-changing passion for shar�ing Christ with others. Since her rebirth in Christ, Johnetta shared Jesus with her children and grandchildren and anyone who would stand still. For more than five decades, she taught Sunday School, as well as Bible studies at Riverside Indian School and the Caddo County Jail. She believes the Bible is the foundation for living (1 Tim. 3:16) and knowing God (Psalm 119). Her prayer for everyone she meets is that they grow in "spiritual insight and the knowl�edge of God" (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Max came to Christ in a miraculous way in 1973 and together they served the Lord for 38 years before his passing. Together their most notable ministry was hospitality as they hosted Sunday dinner for family and many invited guests for nearly 50 years, including a dozen foster children and others who were "adopted."
She loved adventures with her children and grandchildren. She was the first to volunteer for rollercoasters and parasailing, paddle-boating and go-karts.
In 2020, she wrote an illustrated children's book, Jesus the Real Super Hero, for her grandchildren and friends. Copies are available from family.
Max and Johnetta loved travel and together they visited most of her grandchildren in different states, along with excursions with the Lions Club and church groups. While studying genealogy, she found some Stalder relatives in Switzerland and hopped on a plane with her daughter, Terri, to visit them after her 85th birthday. During the pandemic, she visited Washington D.C. and joined in a prayer rally on the Capitol Mall with more than 200,000 guests, praying for America.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John Stalder (1972) and Ethel Stalder (1964); her brother Bill Stalder (1986); her husband Max Talley (2011); a grandson, Jonathan Talley (2015); and her sister Betty Holt (2019).
She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Jim and Tina Talley of Anadarko, John and Caryl Talley of Stillwater, David and Jan Talley of Midwest City, Randy and Kathie Talley of Chickasha and Terri and Doug Hayworth of Anadarko.
Also surviving are her grandchildren (in birth order): Amy (and Rob) Choate of Little Elm, Texas; April (and Luke) Williamson of Ninnekah; Saul (and Mary Beth) Talley of Stillwater; Joel Michael (and Angie) Talley of San Antonio, Texas; GraceRuth (and Bryan) Willnerd of Unadilla, Neb.; Terra (and Barrett) Argo of Norman; James (and Erin) Talley of Norwick, Kan.; Justin (and Rachel) Talley of Norman; Susanna (and Anthony) Roberts of Mustang; Judah (and Amelia) Talley of Colorado Springs, Co.; Caroline (and Ryan) Essex of Tulsa; Josiah (and Holly) Talley of Orlando, Fla.; Benjamin Hayworth of Anadarko; Adrian Talley of Chickasha; Samuel Hayworth of Chickasha; Anna (and Robin) Nightingale of Wichita, Kan.; Hudson Talley of Oklahoma City; Justin (and Julie) Salazar of Midwest City; Stalder (and Heather) Talley of Ponca City; Matthew Hayworth of Grandview, Mo.; and Joel Reagan Talley of Chickasha.
Surviving great-grandchildren (in birth order) include Darron Choate, Susanna Blackburn, Geoffrey Choate, Moses Alvidrez, Phoebe Choate, Eyan Choate, Briauna Salazar, William Choate, Addy Talley, Shane Williamson, Tirzah Talley, Corban Talley, Emma Talley, Josey Choate, Natalie Salazar, Molly Williamson, Rayah Talley, Audrey Talley, Brigdon Talley, Ellen Williamson, Stran Talley, Ahava Talley, Benjamin Williamson, Silas Choate, Collin Talley, Leeanah Talley, Kamden Talley, Rylee Argo, Clara Williamson, Sawyer Talley, Elsie Talley, Camille Essex, James Roberts, Leedon Talley, Arthur Willnerd, Caleb Williamson, Andrew Roberts, Hollis Talley, Jude Hayworth, Kollev Talley, Suzanna Talley, Beckett Talley, EmmaLee Essex, Abigail Roberts, Ender Talley, Evelyn Talley, Reed Talley, Zoey Nightingale, Evangeline Talley, Adeline Essex, Zurich Talley, Jameson Talley, Michael Roberts, Juliette Talley, and Jonathan Nightingale. Surviving great-great grandchildren include newborns Noah Blackburn Jr. and Adrian Alvidrez.
She also is survived by nephews Tim, Jim and Jeff Johnson, and niece Debbie Kane.
In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to donate funds to Bethel Baptist Church in Anadarko, OSU Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Haystack Coffee (BCM) Ministry in Norman, or LifeChoices Chickasha.
Funeral Service: 1:30 p.m., Friday, Dec. 16, 2022
Bethel Baptist Church, Anadarko, OK
Interment: Friday, Dec. 16, 2022
Memory Lane Cemetery, Anadarko, OK
Visitation: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Wed., Dec. 14, 2022
9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m., Thur., Dec. 15, 2022
Ray and Martha's Funeral Home, Anadarko, OK
Under the direction of Ray & Martha's Funeral Home
Anadarko, OK
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Johnetta Grace Talley, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Thursday, December 15, 2022
9:00am - 8:00 pm (Central time)
Ray and Martha's Funeral Home Anadarko
Funeral
Friday, December 16, 2022
Starts at 1:30 pm (Central time)
Bethel Baptist Church
Guestbook
Visits: 32
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