Joy Kathryn (Gover) White

God Had a Plan

Joy Kathryn White was born to Stephen and Vera Gover on January 12, 1941 in Pawnee, OK. She lived with her parents and siblings; Stephen Carroll, Aileen, Ada and Marshall in Southwest Oklahoma. Where she served with her family on the mission field at multiple Indian missions and attended the very first Indian Falls Creek. She graduated from Weatherford High School and then attended Southwestern Oklahoma State Unniversity where she met and married her true love and lifetime companion, Bobby White. Joy supported Bob in his teaching career moving to Dewey, Oklahoma, Dexter, New Mexico and then back to Dewey where the lived for the remainder of their lives. Joy ran a home child care which allowed her to be home for her boys, Stephen and Robie while they were young. She later opened with Indian Lodge Restaurant in Bartlesville with her brother Marshall. The Indian Lodge was known for amazing Indian tacos and Indian hotdogs. It was here that she mastered her fry bread and pumpkin fry bread recipes that have been coveted by many. Joy later retired from Jane Phillips Hospital where she worked in Adminstration included admissions, medical records, insurance billing and Indian health billing. Joy was Pawnee Indian and a well known Native American artist receiving many awards for her bead work and other arts. It was once jokingly noted that "No matter what it is, if it will stay still long enough Joy will bead it." She and her family traveled to art shows, Powwows, and art competions from coast to coast. Joy was proceeded in death by her parents, siblings, Steven Carroll, Aileen, and Marshall and her husband Bob. She leaves many family members behind to celebrate her life. Including her son, Stephen with wife Lisa and adult children Mikela and Gavin of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Her son Robie with wife Kay and adult daughter Madie also of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Her daughter Debra Kay Mooney of Idabel Oklahoma. Her sister Ada and husband Bob Barber of Marysville, Ohio and so many other family and friends. Joy was well known for saying, "God has a plan, we may not know what it is, we may not know why and we may not know when it will show itself BUT God always has a plan." It was God's plan to call Joy from this earth, quietly in her sleep on Monday June 2, 2025 at the age of 84 at home surrounded by her family. After spending 5 days laughing, joking, telling stories, sharing so many happy memories and praying with her nieces, grandchilden, daughters, sons and close personal friends. Just last week Joy was heard telling a granddaughter, "You know where I am going, you know how to get there. I will be waiting with open arms to greet you." God's plan for Joy