Obituary of Joanna Mae Booth

It is with a heavy heart we share the passing of Joanna Booth (Hallum). Joanna, 77 years of age, passed away peacefully on the evening of Thursday, April 7th after a brief three-month illness which was brought on through a stroke and then the diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Joanna was an amazing woman who loved her family dearly. Joanna is survived by her loving husband, Robert (Bob) Booth, sons Mark Hallum (grandchildren, Evan and Sarah) and Matt and Kim Hallum (grandsons, Sterling and Winston). Joanna is predeceased by her parents, Agnes (Shy) and Howard Douglas, first husband Calvin who passed on May 26, 1997, and her brother Howard Douglas who passed 18 months earlier than Calvin. Joanna was born on October 26th, 1944 to Agnes and Howard Douglas. She spent her formative years growing up in South Coffeyville, Oklahoma. As a child she loved playing with her brother Howard and spending time with family. Upon graduation from high school, Joanna attended Coffeyville Junior College where she earned an Associate Degree (Sept 1962 – May 1964). She then went on to earn her Bachelor of Education from Pittsburg State University (Sept 1964 – May 1966). Joanna’s high school sweetheart was Calvin Hallum whom she married on October 23, 1965. Joanna was 20 years old when they married and Calvin was 21 years old, who was getting ready to start his military service. Four years later, on June 9th, 1969, they welcomed their first child, Mark in Coffeyville. Unfortunately, Joanna’s father Howard passed a month before Mark was born and did not have the chance to meet him. Mark married Kristen Costley from Coffeyville and they resided in Great Bend and Junction City, Kansas. They welcomed children Evan (now 25 years old) and Sarah (now 21 years old), who both reside in Manhattan, KS. On May 5th, 1972, Joanna and Calvin welcomed their second child, Matthew who was born in Kansas City, MO. He married Kim Coomber from Regina, Saskatchewan Canada, and they now reside in Katy, Texas along with their sons Sterling (12 years old) and Winston (10 years old). Joanna’s extensive 43-year teaching career took her through teaching kindergarten through to sixth grade. She taught at the Old Parker School, Clymore School, Longfellow School, Lamar, MO, Edwardsville, KS and South Coffeyville Oklahoma School. Joanna fostered many relationships including that with her life-long and dear friend Norma Ashley. Joanna married Robert (Bob) Booth, who is a retired deputy sheriff of Montgomery County, Kansas on November 22, 2003. During their 18 years of marriage, they enjoyed going to the casino, watching the ‘Price Is Right’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune’ as well as many road trips within Kansas to visit Mark, Sarah, and Evan, to Houston to visit, Matt, Kim, Sterling & Winston and to Colorado/coast of Texas to visit extended family members. Joanna was a devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and friend to many. She was quiet among big crowds, being an active listener, but was curious, funny, and talkative one-on-one through many calls, FaceTime, and visits. Joanna was an 18-year cancer survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which she battled with strength and determination. A celebration of Joanna’s life will be Held on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 10:00am at the Veteran's Memorial Patio at Fairview Cemetery with Chaplain Keith Springer officiating. For those wishing to do so, donations can be made in Joanna’s name to young literary writers with care to Kim Hallum (kimberly.hallum@icloud.com) who will ensure any donations are awarded and celebrated.