JoAnn Huddle

JoAnn (Meler) Huddle was born in Sentinel, Oklahoma on July 22, 1929, and passed away peacefully in her Roswell home on October 31, 2023. Growing up on her family farm, she worked hard and enjoyed milking the cows (but never did like drinking milk!) before a long bus ride to the county school.  Her parents, Lee and Tena Meler, instilled in her a love for family and friends which she abundantly shared throughout her life.

An excellent student, avid basketball player, and talented band member, upon high school graduation she chose to attend Oklahoma Baptist University.  While there, she met Lawrence Huddle, a fellow student who soon became the love of her life. After completing their degrees in education, they wed on June 29, 1951, and remained married for over 56 years.  She was heartbroken after his death in 2007.

JoAnn was a devoted 3^rd grade elementary school teacher in Roswell for over 30 years, the majority of which was at Monterrey Elementary.   Her love of teaching was an inspiration to many who knew her, and she always enjoyed seeing her former students in unexpected places.  She was a very active member of First Baptist Church and was involved with teaching classes, singing in the choir, and greeting everyone as they entered the building on Sunday mornings with her warm smile and a happy “Good morning - welcome!”.  She loved to bake cookies and delivered them weekly to members who were unable to attend services, as well as serving on the Bereavement Committee to make and serve food to families and friends after funerals.

 JoAnn and Lawrence loved to travel and took their family on cross-country road trips every summer, stopping along the way at both educational and entertaining locations.  JoAnn loved to photograph historic sites and would use them as a teaching tool to share in the classroom – she also had a penchant for taking photos of any unusual fence she encountered! They both had an affinity for Hawaii and enjoyed visiting as often as they could.  Their passion for travel extended to their entire family and they often took all of them on extraordinarily memorable vacations.

As a dedicated mother and grandmother, JoAnn spent innumerable hours reading books, playing games, hosting tea parties, and was always willing to spend hours entertaining them.  Always the teacher, she would share her talent and wisdom with all, and there would always be a chocolate pie with graham cracker crust in the fridge or cookies to share as a special treat.  If it was your birthday, anniversary, holiday, or other special occasion, you were guaranteed to receive a card to celebrate always signed with “I love you a bushel and a peck, and a hug around the neck”.  You always knew you were loved beyond measure!

A wonderful cook and baker, JoAnn showed her love by filling your belly. Whether a large, sit-down dinner (her Sunday roast dinners with “church gravy” are legendary!), or the traditional grilled burgers on Saturday afternoons, she made sure anyone was welcome and that there was always enough for all…even if there were unexpected guests.  Her favorite ending to a meal was to sit at the table and “visit” while enjoying dessert and, perhaps, a cup of coffee or glass of iced tea.  Her philosophy was “eat, stay a while, relax, and let’s enjoy each other’s company”.

JoAnn’s strong faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation on which she based her life. She prayed nightly for each family member, by name, as well as for her friends and things happening in the world. Her family often called on her to pray for specific situations in their lives, telling her she had a “direct line to God”. This faith, which was nurtured in her by her parents from childhood, and which she and her husband Lawrence shared, is a large part of her legacy.

JoAnn is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Liz Huddle, and her daughter and son-in-law, Marcee and David Little. She has five grandchildren, Amanda (Jason) Owens, Tiffany (Jarred) Cloud, Meagan (Hunter) Ganze, Jonathan (Allison) Little, and Allyssa (David) Austin, as well as eight great-grandchildren, Hunter, Remington, and McKayla Owens, Addison (Brady) Mendez, Dalas Cloud, KC Austin, and Mark and Nate Ganze. She was delighted by the recent addition of a great-great grandson, Baylenn Mendez.

JoAnn’s family welcomes anyone who knew her to join us for her service at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 18, 2023, at LaGrone Funeral Chapel. Interment and a graveside service will follow at South Park Cemetery. Prior to her funeral service, visitation hours at LaGrone Funeral Chapel will be 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, November 17, 2023.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to First Baptist Church of Roswell or the Oklahoma Baptist Children’s Home, 3800 N. May Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73112-9750.