Joe Stillwell

Joe Stillwell, of the Nelson community, passed away on Oct. 22, 2026 at Texoma Medical Center in Denison, Texas, at the age of 82. Joe Riley Stillwell was born on May 2, 1944, at his family’s home southeast of Soper, Okla., and was the youngest of seven children born to Albert Frederick “Tice” Stillwell and Betty Lafayette “Fay” (Wharton) Stillwell. Joe lived in the Soper area his entire life and graduated from Soper High School in 1962.

Joe married Shirley Billings on June 25, 1965, and they enjoyed 61 years of marriage. Joe spent two years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including a tour of duty in Vietnam, before being honorably discharged in 1968. Joe and Shirley were blessed with the arrival of their only son, Jason in 1974. Joe became Papa Joe when granddaughter Ashley entered the family in 1998, and he then became a great-grandpa with the births of Jax and Niko.

Joe was a faithful member of the Church of Christ in Boswell, Okla. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Stillwell of the home; his son, Jason Stillwell and wife, Lee Ann of Bokchito; his granddaughter, Ashley and husband, Austin of Calera; and great-grandsons: Jaxon and Nikolas.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Tice and Fay Stillwell; his sisters: Wilma Truesdell, Juanita Keller, Mae Dean Wright, and Norma Holley; and his brothers: Wilburn Stillwell and J.B. Stillwell.

The family hour and visitation will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 2026 at the Nelson Community Center, with the service to follow at 2 p.m.

Interment will follow the service at Sugar Creek Cemetery, under the direction of Prater- Lampton-Mills & Coffey Funeral Home.

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