Kenneth Joiner was born Sept. 2, 1932 to Barton L. and Ethel M. (Post) Joiner in Boswell, Okla. On Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, the scoreboard finally reached all zeros and Coach Joiner walked off the field of life to a Victory Celebration in Heaven.
After graduating high school in Boswell, Kenneth attended Oklahoma State University and then joined the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Hector in the Korean Conflict.
After returning from Korea, he captured the eye of a beautiful waitress at a diner in Durant. He convinced her he was a cattle baron and soon she was wooed by the power of the Joiner charm. (Kenneth only had two cows!) Kenneth L. Joiner and Mazie Pickens were married on May 16, 1957.
Kenneth and Mazie made their home in Durant and brought two children into the world: William Barton and Robin Kay.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s, Kenneth returned to school at Southeastern State College and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. He also began his studies for a Master’s in Education. He attended school during the day while working a full-time job in the evenings, and still managed to find time to do “Dad” things with Bart and Robin.
Kenneth began his teaching and coaching career at Caddo, Okla. where he coached football, basketball, baseball and track as well as taught hundreds of students to type on IBM Selectric typewriters. Kenneth spent a year as Jr. High football coach in Choctaw, Okla. It was during this time he completed his Master’s in Education and was named the principal at Achille High School. He finished his career in public education as principal at Clayton High School in Clayton, Okla.
As much as Kenneth enjoyed coaching and teaching, he cherished the opportunity of being a motivator, challenger and encourager of young people. Kenneth truly believed that you could do anything or be anything you wanted with hard work, dedication and practice. A source of pride for Kenneth was the large number of educators in the Joiner family.
Following his teaching career, Kenneth found he could use his talents helping inmates at the Howard McLeod Correctional Center. He encouraged countless inmates to change their lives and be productive. He counseled them and upon release gave many of them letters of recommendation. Kenneth always believed there was good and value in everyone… sometimes they just needed help finding it.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mazie; brothers: Lonzo, Edmond, Morris and Fred Joiner; sisters-in-law: Alpha Joiner, Laverne Joiner, Molly Coffman, Bobbie Cluis and Billie Butler; brothers-in-law: Pete Coffman, Tony Cluis and granddaughter, Kaytie Joiner.
He is survived by his daughter, Robin Edwards (Joe Turner) of Durant; son, Bart Joiner (Kristyn) of Edmond; three grandchildren: Leigha Pemberton (Thomas J) of Luther, Brandy Edwards (Geoffrey Ashby) of Durant, and Jacob Joiner of Yukon; sisters-in-law: Joan Joiner, Charlcia Joiner and Wanda Joiner; four great-grandchildren: Anna Pemberton, Abbie Pemberton, Everly Edwards and River Ashby; along with a dozen nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Leon, and countless friends and students.
Services for Kenneth Leon Joiner, 87, will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019, at 2 p.m. in the Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home Chapel in Durant, Okla. A visitation for family and friends will be held prior to the funeral from 1-2 p.m. Interment will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Calera, Okla.
