Ovalene “Joan” Bryant

Ovalene “Joan” Bryant, daughter of the late Oval Homer and Theresa Margaret (Spiva) East-Loudenslager, was born June 25, 1938, in Stella. She passed from this life and into the arms of Jesus on Feb. 20, 2025, at her home in Trenton, Fla., at the age of 86. Joan was united in marriage to Kenneth D. Bryant on Feb. 13, 1954, in Buffalo, Iowa, and they were married for 50 years. Three children were born to this union: Steven Kenneth, Jo Lynn and Dee Anne. Kenneth served in the United States Navy for 22 and one half years so they lived in many places including, California, Washington State, she took a 4-year-old, 2-year-old, and an infant to Japan by herself, Hawaii, Michigan and Florida throughout his career. Joan was a stay-at-home mom until Steve married “Jet” on Oct. 28, 1976. Joan then went to work with Barnett Bank in Jacksonville, Fla. She got her AA degree from FCCJ. She loved the banking business and retired as a Branch Manager with Bank of America. After they both retired, Joan and Kenn traveled by motor home, and bought a lake home in Theodosia. They traveled between Florida, Texas, and Missouri yearly. They enjoyed visiting immediate family in Florida and relatives in Kansas City, Ava, Bolivar, and Mountain Grove, and family in San Antonio and San Marcos, Texas. Joan enjoyed being a grandma and provided all her grandkids and great-grandkids Florida prepaid scholarships to college, to further their higher education. She loved to cook, can, and bake and was generous with family, friends, and fellow church members. She and Kenn hosted college exchange students from El Salvador, Haiti and Honduras. They studied in America and then had to return to their home country to contribute. Jacque returned with his wife, Danielle, from Haiti to Jacksonville, Fla., and raised two girls who are nurses like their mom and a son who’s at the Naval Academy.  After Kenn died on April 8, 2004, Joan enjoyed traveling with Frances Jennings, who she met in Jacksonville. They were friends for over 50 yrs. They went to Switzerland, England, Austria and Israel together. Joan was a Methodist as was her step-dad “dad” who was a Methodist minister. She had the spiritual gifts of giving, hospitality, and encouragement. We believe in “absent from the body, present with the Lord” for those who have trusted Christ as their Savior.
Besides her parents, Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Bryant; two daughters, Jo Lynn Curtis (Jan. 22, 2024) and Dee Anne Morehouse (Jan. 3, 2020); one brother, James Frank Loudenslager; and one sister, Colene Garman. Joan is survived by her son, Steven Bryant and wife, Georgette, of Trenton, Fla.; three sisters, Ylene Green, Linda Detchemendy and husband, Tom, and Janice Stauffer and husband, Dan; six grandchildren, Joshua, Sarah, Jennifer, Danielle, Hannah and Meg; nine great-grandchildren, Sydney, Tanner, Hailey, Lucas, Justice, Jace, Wesley, Beau and Noelle; many nephews and nieces; and many other relatives and friends who will miss her dearly. Services for Joan Bryant were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2025, in the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove. Special songs were “It Is Well,” “Amazing Grace” and “I’ll Fly Away.” John Rader, Jim Rader, Ted Storie, Dan Stauffer, Marvin Laswell and Fred Green served as pallbearers. Burial was in the Pleasant Home Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.