Submitted by
Louise Willison

Amelia Josephine Willard

NEWKIRK — Amelia Josephine Willard, longtime Newkirk resident, died Monday night, Feb. 12, 2007, in Ponca City Medical Center. She was 75.

The daughter of Christopher Columbus and Amelia Alma Anderson Long, Amelia Josephine Long was born Nov. 27, 1931, on the family farm east of Newkirk. She grew up in the Newkirk area and received her education in the Sweetwater School, 106 Rural School and Kaw City High School. Following graduation Jo obtained employment with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator in Newkirk.

On July 21, 1951, Josephine and Willie Franklin Willard were married in Newkirk. They established their first home in Newkirk and resided there their entire married life.

In 1962 she was transferred to the Ponca City office where she worked until 1966. That year she began working for the Oklahoma Department of Welfare in Newkirk. Mr. Willard died July 30, 1981. She retired in 1986 and remained in Newkirk.

A member of the Kaw tribe, Jo was an active member of the Moose Lodge in Ponca City and the VFW Auxiliary in Newkirk. She was an avid bingo player, and she enjoyed her twice a year trips to Las Vegas. She loved dogs, especially her faithful companion Tykie.

Jo is survived by her brother, Neal Long of Ponca City; her nephews and nieces, Bennie Neal Long of Ponca City, his daughter and son-in-law, Chelsea and Greg Hock and their daughter Kylie, all of California, Lydia Backhaus, her son and daughter-in-law Michael and Crystal Backhaus, and their daughters, Kylie and Devon Marie, all of Ponca City, and Shawndra Railene Hazen of Ponca City.

Funeral services for Mrs. Willard will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 16, in the chapel of Miller-Stahl Funeral Service with Danny W. Cornish officiating. Interment will follow in Newkirk Cemetery. The body will lie in state Thursday until 9 p.m. and Friday until 1 p.m.

A memorial fund has been established with Hospice of North Central Oklahoma. Contributions may be made in Jo Willard's name through Eastman National Bank, Box 468, Newkirk, Okla. 74647.