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| Dr. Joann Fokes and Boogie, July 22, 2000 |
Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.: June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010 Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021 |
Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.
"In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years."
― Abraham Lincoln
Today we send sincere condolences to the family of Dr. Joann Fokes. Joann, a good friend of the Smith family, spent many hours on the Milliron Farm trails. In the above photo, dressed and ready to attend Jessica's outdoor wedding, Dr. Fokes is riding Boogie, her beautiful Paso Fino.
JOANN FOKES OBITUARY
Athens Dr. Joann Brauer
Fokes
Joann Fokes passed away on October 5, 2022 from complications from Alzheimer's
at O'Bleness Hospital in Athens OH. She was the daughter of Louis D. Brauer and
Frances Ada Dodson Brauer. She was born on September 19, 1927 in Del Rio,
Texas. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Marion (Sissy)
Brauer Mayfield, Her brother, Edwin Louis Brauer and her husband, Jack Murrah
Fokes.
Joann graduated from Del Rio High School on June 12, 1945. Following graduation
she attended Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio for two years. She
then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin. She graduated with a
Bachelors of Education in 1949 and taught school in Corpus Cristi and Comstock,
Texas.
She married Jack Fokes in 1953 and moved to Uvalde, Texas. They had two
children, Jacquelyn Fokes (Gerry Hillferty) and Clifford Howard Fokes (Schuyler
E. Cone).
Jack Fokes was killed in a car wreck in 1957. At that point Joann went back to
school. Earning her Masters of Education from South Texas College in 1962 and
then her Doctor of Philosophy from Purdue University in 1967. She then took a
position at Ohio University teaching in the Speech and Hearing Department. Dr. Fokes was known for her unique and unusually creative teaching style. She
retired after 28 years as a full Professor. Author of the Fokes Sentence
Builder, she was made Professor Emerita in 1993.
This career and her outside interests made for long and demanding days. No one
would deny that Joann prized her independence and fortitude that continued to
the end of her life.
Joann, along with her daughter, Jackie, were passionate about horses. After
acquiring property in Athens County, they began a 20 year journey of raising,
training, and showing Paso Fino horses. They were one of the first breeders in
a wide state area to show and sell this special breed of horse. At last count,
it was 104 horses over the years. Traveling was a second passion and when Joann
was not showing or trail riding her horses around the southeast US, she was
traveling abroad to Europe, South America, Australia and other exotic locales.
In addition to horses, was her love of dogs, particularly Golden Retrievers, of
which she bred and provided rescue for. Her farm, with beautiful woods, pastures
and a pond provided them with an ideal life. Joann was also known for her
cooking skills. Fabulous multi course dinners were served to large groups of
friends and relatives every holiday and birthday.
We want to thank Lindley Inn and their staff for the care they provided for
Joann.
Joann has donated her body to the Ohio University Heritage College of
Osteopathic Medicine. A remembrance will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Alzheimer's Association, National Parks
Conservation Association, Stuart's Opera House or the Ohio University School of
Communication Sciences and Disorders. Dr. Joann Fokes.
Connect with Gina...
Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian.
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1 comment:
Joann was truly an amazing lady. Having traveled and ridden horseback thousands
of miles with her and shared hundreds of campfires with her, family and friends I can say she has left a huge hole in our hearts. RIP dear friend
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