Joy Lee Little

April 19, 1946 – March 20, 2026

Joy Lee Little passed away peacefully on Friday, March 20, 2026, at the age of 79 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Joy was born on April 19, 1946, in Delaware, Oklahoma, to Delmar and Audrey Hooper. She graduated from Broken Arrow High School and built a life centered on faith, family, and resilience.

On November 21, 1964, Joy married Ellison Gilliland, and together they raised and supported their five children, encouraging them in education and sports. Later in life, Joy found love again and married Darryl Little on March 7, 2001. They made their home in Nowata, Oklahoma, where they shared a deep love for deer hunting, fishing, and the outdoors.

A woman of strong faith, Joy loved the Lord and found great comfort and guidance in her life. She was known for her warm heart, gentle spirit, and the lasting impact she had on everyone who knew her.

Joy found her greatest happiness in the outdoors—gardening, tending to flowers, raising chickens, deer hunting, and fishing. She was a devoted bird watcher who especially loved hummingbirds and took pride in keeping a martin house. She also had a special love for dogs, giving them fond names such as Lady Bug, Addie Mae, and Mia.

Later in life, Joy achieved a remarkable milestone by earning her associate degree and becoming a registered nurse at the age of 40, after raising her five children. She went on to serve her community as a nurse at St. Francis for the better part of 15 years, caring for others with compassion and dedication.

She will be remembered for her unwavering faith, her strength, her compassion, and the many cherished memories she created with those she loved. Joy brought peace and joy to all who knew her, leaving a lasting legacy of love and kindness.

Survivors

Joy is lovingly survived by her children: Lisa, Angela, Audrey, Heath, and Jodi; her grandchildren: Darren, Paige, Jordan, Melissa, Mark, Andrew, Jadan, Jalan, Halley, Ciera, and Heath Michael; and her great-grandchildren: Destinee, Ryan, Aden, Brooklyn, Samantha, Trenten, Trysten, Amariah, Bryant, Amelia, Lyondon, Isabelle, Jalan, and AJ.