Dr. Joe Walton Lemley's Obituary
Retired superintendent of the Tulsa Technology Centers, Dr. Joe W. Lemley, went to be with the lord on Wednesday, July 2, 2014. “Evangelical Champion of Education” will be remembered in services at Christ United Methodist Church (3515 S Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74136) on Saturday, July 5, 2014 at 2:00 pm with the private burial to take place thereafter at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens (6420 S 129th E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74012.) Joe Walton Lemley, son of Herbert and Nola Lemley, was born on May 16, 1925 near Dover, Arkansas. The birth occurred in a small community known as Pine Hill and Joe lived the first eight years of his life in and around Dover, Hector, and the Russellville, Arkansas areas. In February of 1933, the family moved to a farm near Checotah, Oklahoma. Joe continued his public education in a two-room school at Elm Grove, exactly one mile north of the farm. A small creek ran nearby the school, therefore it became very appropriate that fishing be added to the curriculum. The elementary instruction was excellent, taught by a husband-wife teaching team, but marbles, fishing, baseball, and basketball on a dirt court was another form of education for the youngster. An eight-grade graduation class of seven was entitled to a field trip to the McAlester State Penitentiary. Today, Joe believes such a field trip should be a requirement for all eight-grade students, because it left a life long impression on this young student. Joe later transferred to Checotah High School where he lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. Joe recalls many fond memories from his high school varsity sports for the Checotah Wildcats. After graduation Joe entered the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific on a mine sweeper and the Atlantic in the Fleet Air Wing #16, during World War II. Joe was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy on March 12, 1946, and helped his dad on the family farm until September, when he entered college on the GI Bill at Connors Junior College at Warner, Oklahoma. He later transferred to Northeastern State University at Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education. His first teaching assignment was in Council Hill, Oklahoma just a few miles from the family farm. He served as Principal and Head Basketball Coach there for three years. His next professional assignment was the same at Orlando, Oklahoma, a few miles west of what is now known as Oklahoma State University. This was a wonderful location for Joe to continue his college education. In 1951, Joe earned his Master of Science degree in Industrial Arts and Secondary School Administration from Oklahoma A & M College, (now Oklahoma State University). In October of 1952, Joe moved to Tulsa to be employed by the Tulsa Public Schools to teach Drafting and Design at Webster High School. Three years later, Joe transferred to downtown Central High School to teach advanced classes in Drafting and Design. In 1962, he became the Assistant Principal of 3,000 students at Central High School. Early in 1965, one of the most exciting aspects of Joe’s educational career was about to happen. He was asked to serve as Director of the first Area Vocational-Technical School, located at 3420 S. Memorial Drive, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He served as Director/Principal of the Tulsa Area Vocational-Technical Schools from 1965 until 1974. During this time, Joe enrolled at the University of Tulsa to pursue a Doctorate of Education degree graduating in 1969 in education administration. In 1973, the Oklahoma legislature created the Tulsa County Area Vocational-Technical School District #18. The newly elected Board of Education appointed Dr. Joe as the first Superintendent effective July 1, 1974. Dr. Lemley was a member in many professional organizations during his educational career. Dr. Lemley proudly served as Superintendent of the Tulsa Vo-Tech Schools until his retirement on September 6, 1988, exactly twenty-three years from the first opening date of school on the same campus in 1965. During his working career, he worked in the engineering department for seven major companies in the Tulsa area, classroom teacher for fourteen years in Industrial Education, fifteen years as a High School Principal and fourteen years as Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Lemley was selected by the Tulsa Retired Educators Association as VIM (Very Important Member) of the Oklahoma Retired Educators Association in 1995. Also, in 1995 Dr. Lemley was inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame. Upon retirement, Dr. Lemley became active in state and local organizations of retired teachers serving as 1992-1993 President of Tulsa Retired Educators Association. He remains in Will Rogers Rotary Club, Christ Methodist Church and the Open Door Sunday School class, and TU basketball and from football from TU Hurricane Club. During his years in the educational field, Dr. Lemley established excellent rapport with students, fellow educators, parents and citizens of the community and state. Former students often visited him in his office. He maintained a caring and professional relationship with his fellow educators and citizens of his community and state. Joe is predeceased by his parents, Herbert and Nola Lemley, and his brother Eugene Lemley. Joe is survived by his wife, JoAnn Lemley, his son Joe Roy Lemley and wife Linda, his daughter Dr. Judith Holt and husband Donald, his grandson Jordon Holt and wife Emily, two granddaughters, Alexi Klenda and Lauren Webb, his stepson Jay Gann, his great granddaughter Jade Holt, great great granddaughter Preslee Webb, his two sisters, Sue Lovelady and Lucille Cairns, his two nephews, Mark Lovelady and Allen Lovelady, and his niece Vicki Smith. Dr. Joe W. Lemley was an incredible man with many accomplishments; he will be greatly missed by his family and all of the community.
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