Joann Bayles peacefully passed into her heavenly home on August 12, 2025 with her husband by her side. Joann was a beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend to all who knew her. A celebration of life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on August 23, 2025 at the Stillwater Church of Christ, Stillwater, Oklahoma. Strode Funeral Home and Cremation is in charge of arrangements.

Joann (Jenkins) Bayles was born on July 3, 1939 in Trenton, Kentucky to Alva Thomas and Geneva May (Robertson) Jenkins. She graduated from Lake View High School in Chicago, Illinois. Joann moved to Tripoli, Libya where her fiance, Dudley Jack Bayles was on assignment with the Air Force. They married on November 16, 1961 and welcomed their son, Steve in 1963. They spent three wonderful years in North Africa. They moved back to the states and welcomed their daughter, Stephanie in 1967. They lived many places and did many things until they settled in Stillwater, Oklahoma, their permanent home.

Joann always had a heart for children and over the years many children became very much a part of the Bayles family. She was a dedicated caregiver to her children, grandchildren, about 50 foster children along with any other child who happened to cross her path and was in need.

In 1982 Joann received her Practical Nursing Certification from the Indian Meridian Vocational Technical School in Stillwater. The Lord was preparing her for one of her greatest life adventures! She had become involved with sending care packages to the Namwianga Mission in Zambia, Africa. The Mission was in need of a nurse. Jack always said Joann was their ticket to the mission work in Africa. In 1987 Jack and Joann traveled to Zambia for a year-long mission. Joann was the school nurse and worked with orphans. She was a mentor and an example of selfless Christ-like love to every soul who was blessed to meet her. Her many children "rise up and call her blessed." She is and always will be forever in our hearts.

Joann is survived by her husband, Dudley Jack Bayles; son Steve and his wife Jenny; daughter Stephanie and her husband Brian; five beloved grandchildren, Dell Roy, Shawn, Sebastian, Sophia and Olivia; sister Jean Sykora and her husband Jim; the Pelshak children; the Sykora nieces; the Bayles nieces and nephew and many wonderful neighbors and friends.

Memorial Contributions may be made to The Namwianga Missions (through the Stillwater Church of Christ) in memory of Joann Bayles.