Joan Paslay

Joan Ann (Batschelett) Paslay, more affectionately known as Nana, was welcomed to the gates of Heaven by her family (at the age of 84) on December 4, 2020.

Joan was born on September 26, 1936 to Edward and Annie (Kesner) Batschelett on the family farm in rural Fairfax, Oklahoma.  She would later share her birthday with her great granddaughter, Vannesa, for seventeen years.  She was the baby of her family having two older sisters Joyce and Jean and an older brother Charles.

Joan met and later married her high school sweetheart, Bobby Paslay, on June 16, 1956 after many double dates with their friends Homer and Marcia Anson who also later married.  Marcia and Joan had a special friendship; they lived and worked together right after high school before marrying and continued to be spotted driving all over town until this past year when Joan could no longer get in Marcia’s truck.  Thus, gaining the nicknames Thelma and Louise.

Joan and Bobby were blessed with four children.  Their oldest, a daughter, named Terri Lynn was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma on February 23, 1957.  Their middle daughter, Jackie Ann came October 16, 1958 when the couple lived in Amarillo, Texas. The oldest son, Mark Allen was also born in Amarillo, Texas on August 31, 1961.  The couple completed their family with their youngest son, Preston Douglas, who was born June 13, 1977 in Brighton, Colorado.

Joan worked as a bookkeeper at the First State Bank in Fairfax for many years before deciding to stay home with her youngest son.  She loved taking care of her family and friends and was often found in her kitchen at lunchtime cooking four course meals for them.  She could get a stain out of anything!  She was kind at heart (unless you crossed her kids, grandkids, or great- grandkids), and had even been teased that her dogs were tucked in better at night than some children.  She was even known to leave a water bowl under the large tree in her front yard for the squirrels that would come into her yard.  Nana was a staple at all of her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids activities, and she loved telling anyone who would listen about how many kids, grandkids, and great grandkids she had.  In her younger years, she was known as the person who would watch and care for many kids- keeping them as long as they needed to stay!

Joan raised her children in the Methodist Church in Fairfax, and later joined the First Christian Church also in Fairfax.

She is survived by her husband of the home, Bobby Paslay.  Her children Terri Irons, Jackie (George) Pease III, and Mark (Kim) Paslay all of Fairfax and Preston (Halli) Paslay of Ponca City.  Twelve grandchildren: Brandun, Chelsea, Newkirk, Cassidi, Markus, Colton, Gage, Kaylie, Kaden (KP), Austin, Clark Cash, and Kyall.  Fourteen great grandchildren: EmaLeigh, Madeline, Haylee, Charlee, Aubrey, Vannesa, Braili, Colt, Maylee, Axtyn, Adeline, Kade, LillyAnn, and Austyn.  Brother Charles (Sandy) Batschelett, her niece and nephew she viewed as her own, Randy Wilson and Pam Wilson, and special sister in law, Mary Lou Brashear, who would stay for weeks caring for her before her last illness took her ability to walk causing her to need 24 hour care at the Fairfax Manor over the last year.  She is also survived by numerous other brothers in laws, sister in laws, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Jean and Joyce, brother in law Billy Wilson, a great grandson Bryce Allen Paslay, her niece she loved as her own- Sharon Early and her husband James Early.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers will be George Pease III, Ace Engle, Dustin Potts, King Bowman, Danny Cook, Kevin Paslay, Homer Paslay, Randy Wilson, Jose Sparks, John “Popper” Holloway, Greg Batschelett, Kenny Batschelett, and Dr. James Graham.

Family visitation will be at the Grayhorse Chapel.  Services will be at the First Christian Church in Fairfax Tuesday December 8 at 2:00 PM.

The family would like everyone to follow CDC guidelines (including wearing a mask) while paying your respects to our loved one.

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard?” -A.A. Milne