Joann Kitchen

JoAnn Kitchen, a homemaker and lifelong resident of Oklahoma City, died suddenly on Tuesday, June 27, 2022 at the age of 88. She was immediately welcomed into heaven by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Survived by sister Peggy Myrick; children, John (Teresa) Kitchen, Melinda (Jeff) Dykstra, William (Nancy) Kitchen, and Richard (Sharon) Kitchen; grandchildren, Michelle Tibbs, Michael (Kumiko) Dykstra, Leah (Daniel) Stewart, Julie (Chris) Cook, Carli (Joe) Shelton, Josh (Kari) Dykstra, Jennifer Kitchen, Phillip (Katherine) Kitchen, Veronica (Terry) Horstman, Chelsie Kitchen, Neal Kitchen, Angela Molina, and Christopher Kitchen; 28 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews, and her special friends from Sunday School at Emmaus Baptist Church.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her husband John Leslie Kitchen; mother, Mildred Taby, father, Henry (Hank) Taby and sister Betty Ziegelgruber.
JoAnn was born on May 12, 1934 in Lep, Oklahoma to Henry (Hank) Taby and Mildred Oliver Taby. She grew up in the life of an oilfield family, living in many towns around Oklahoma, spending the majority of her schooling at Crooked Oak, Moore, and graduating from Deer Creek High School.
She met her husband, John Leslie Kitchen of Moore at a young age. They started their family living on the property of her husband’s Grandparent’s old dairy farm located at SW 89th and Western. They later moved, but remained in south Oklahoma City and all four children graduated from Moore High School.
JoAnn was a devoted mother, grandmother and friend to all. She enjoyed gardening, giving hugs (even if unwelcomed), weekends at Lake Texoma, cooking, and family gatherings. Her love for shopping provided her an opportunity to meet many new friends, where she spread joy and shared her faith.
But, most of all, she was passionate in her love of Christ and proclaimed it boldly with everyone she encountered. She demonstrated this passion through her dedication to Emmaus Baptist Church and her “Sonshine Girls” up until she was no longer able to attend on her own.
As her health declined, her son Richard and daughter-in-law Sharon graciously opened their home to not only care for her, but allowed her to thrive with independence and dignity in her later years-providing the simple things she enjoyed in life and enabled her to stay connected to family and friends.
Even in her development of dementia, she never lost her sense of humor, her love of others or her faith in Christ. She was a fighter until the end.
She never met a stranger. She lived, she loved and hugged well.
A funeral service is scheduled for Friday, July 1, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Emmaus Baptist Church 16001 S. Western in Oklahoma City, OK 73170. Pastors Mike Booth and Jeron Young will officiate.
Memorial donations may be made to Emmaus Baptist Church or the mission organization of your choice.