Joan Dabbs

Joan Wyrick Bogle Dabbs, 81, of Nixa, Missouri, formerly of Dexter, Missouri, passed away Dec. 29, 2023.

She was born in Flora, Illinois Sept.29, 1942. She was the daughter of Merlin and Maxine Bogle.

She was a strong and brave young woman who following graduation at the age of 17 moved away for work in Aurora, Illinois. It was there where she met Gail, a “hillbilly” in her words. After some convincing, she agreed to go out with him. They were married on Aug. 10, 1962, after a brief courtship and remained happily married for 54 years until he passed away in April of 2016. She and Gail had one daughter, Tracy, who she considered to be her best friend over the years. She had one grandson, Josh, whom she adored. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her family.

Joan was a loving and supportive friend throughout her life, always offering to lend a helping hand when needed. Joan and Gail were active in their church in Dexter, Missouri. She loved to spend time with and travel with family, and shop for the latest styles and jewelry. Her love for accumulating clothes and shoes was legendary in her family. She was also known to host large garage sales due to this fact. Joan loved spending time with friends in Dexter and enjoyed playing bingo.

Joan enjoyed entertaining and engaging in a good conversation, but she also loved her afternoon naps. We all knew to never mess with her during nap time. She loved to go out and eat and her favorite splurge was always lobster. She loved animals and had several pets throughout her life. Joan always had a knack for decorating. Her house was always as “neat as a pin” ….as long as no one opened the cabinets.

Family was always important to Joan. She was always supportive of Gail’s business adventures and of Tracy, spending endless hours on phone calls during college, offering advice, assisting in apartment hunts, decorating, etc. She loved her weekly excursions with Tracy to have her hair and nails done, lunch and of course, shopping. She and Gail were entrepreneurs who owned several different businesses over the course of their marriage. As they retired, they loved to hop in their little RV and take road trips with family. They also enjoyed taking short getaways to hit casinos where she almost always ended up being luckier than Gail.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Tracy and her husband Jerry Henry, Nixa; her grandson, Josh Henry, Springfield; several brothers and sisters-in-law, Margie Bogle, Flora, Illinois, Elsie Heller, Hallsville, Missouri, Jim and Sue Collins, Springfield, Missouri, Neil and Shirley Dabbs, Fisk, Missouri, Erma Dabbs, California, Missouri, LeaVern Dabbs, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Jim and June Novlan, Princeton, Illinois; as well as a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Gail Dabbs; her parents, Merlin and Maxine Bogle; a brother, Jim Bogle; and many beloved members of her husband’s family.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Intrepid Hospice, especially Brooke, for the loving care given to Joan. Also, the family would like to thank the staff at Township Senior Living and a special thank you to Hannah, Amber, Tina, Terri, Evelyn, Julie, Becky, Vanessa and Amy who added joy to her life over the past year.

A visitation will be from 1 -2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa. A brief service will immediately follow at 2 p.m. with Chaplain Randy Martin from Intrepid Hospice Officiating. The burial will follow at McConnell-Bledsoe Cemetery in Nixa.