Joy Merle Tannehill

Joy Merle (Anderson) Tannehill left this world on January 7, 2026, in Sulphur, OK, at age 95 years and 3 months. She was born on September 8, 1930, in Lindsay, OK, the daughter of Arthur and Mildred Merle (McClure) Anderson. She grew up and attended school in Lindsay and attended the Methodist Church. She later became a member of Calvary Baptist Church where she attended for many years.

On October 31, 1946, she married the love of her life, Eugene Douglas Tannehill, in Purcell, OK. Joy owned a Hobby shop on Main Street in Lindsay, then later opened M & M Donut Shop while also helping Gene with his well service company until they both retired and became snowbirds in Texas.

After Gene’s passing on May 31, 2000, she decided to move to Sulphur to their summer home at Cedar Blue RV Park. Joy returned to the work force and joined the Chickasaw Nation from whom she eventually fully retired while continuing to make Sulphur her home for the next 20 plus years until her death.

Joy had many hobbies. She enjoyed painting, fishing, and camping. At one time, she even coached softball. Yet, family came first.

She is survived by one sister Judy Green of Norman, OK, two sons, Doug Tannehill of Oklahoma City, and Phillip Tannehill and wife, Glenda, of Weatherford, OK; two daughters, Gloria Smith, and husband Ernest, of Sulphur, and Emily Blackburn of Sulphur; and 12 grandchildren, Jason Tannehill of Jenks, OK, Jennifer Tannehill of Dallas, Kenneth Finley, Greg Finley, and Janet Finley all of Lindsay, Kenny Gaston of Yukon, Misti Collins of Wynnewood, Mark Tannehill of Denver, Justin Gates of Yukon, OK, Anisa Blackburn of Sulphur, Becky Jantz of Chickasha, OK, and Chris Sanders of Sulphur.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Mary Ellen Edmondson; daughter, Mary Lovell Finley; two granddaughters, Jana Sexton and Leah Finley Albright, two grandsons, Chad Jones and Dwight Gaston; two sons-in-law, Karol Finley and Nick Blackburn; daughter-in-law, Margaret Tannehill; and two brothers-in-law, Dale Curtis and Bill Edmondson.

Joy will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Gene, at Greenhill Cemetery in Lindsay this spring.