JoAnn Ryan

Dr. JoAnn “Jody” Ryan passed away peacefully on December 26, 2025, following a
battle with cancer, which she fought with courage and dignity. In a final gift to her family,
Jody spent Christmas at her Tulsa home surrounded by loved ones, visiting individually
with each family member as they shared love, gratitude, and cherished memories. Just
days earlier, on December 16, she celebrated her 85th birthday with family at her home.

Born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, JoAnn married and began her family early in life.
She first pursued a career in education, working as a high school biology teacher
in Edmond, OK, where she was named Oklahoma's Outstanding Biology Teacher
for 1978 by the National Association of Biology Teachers. Realizing she had
reached the pinnacle of her high school teaching career, JoAnn exemplified
her philosophy of "leave them wanting more" and steered her life in a new
direction, toward Tulsa. At the age of 39, she made a bold and life-changing
decision to begin anew-both personally and professionally. She changed her
name to JoAnn Ryan and set her sights on becoming a physician.

JoAnn returned to school and earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in 1983. She began her medical
career in private practice which she continued until 1999. In April 1999, she joined the
Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy. Her dedication and leadership led to her
promotion as Chief Medical Officer for Oklahoma State Prisons in November 1999.

In September 2004, Dr. Ryan joined Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic
Medicine as a medical professor and was named Chair of the College of Osteopathic
Manipulative Medicine. She continued to teach medical students while also maintaining
a private family medicine practice in Tulsa until her retirement in 2017. Teaching,
mentoring, and caring for patients were among her greatest professional joys.

She was a community volunteer for many years supporting the Mental Health
Association board, Resonance Center for Women past board chair and advisory
member, OSU-COM Alumni Association Past President, Leadership Tulsa board, Tulsa
Osteopathic Medical Society Past President to name a few. She was awarded the
Pinnacle Award from the Mayor’s office in 2002 and the A.T. Still Award of Excellence in
2007.

Her family believes Jody was lovingly escorted to heaven by her son, Lex Mason; her
father and mother, Ray and Hazel Gross; and the angels.

She is survived by her beloved partner, Philip Friedl; her brother, Dr. Ray Gross; her
children, Lynn Flinn (husband Rocky Goins) and Lane Mason (partner Haybe
Anderson); her grandchildren, Anna Mason Templin, Laura Ryan (partner Adam
Cummings), and Brian Flinn; her great-grandchildren, Mason Templin, Samuel Templin,
Paul Templin, Lynleigh Eccles, and John Ray Eccles III (wife Nakia Eccles); and her
great-great-grandchildren, John Ray Eccles IV and Henry Eccles.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at
Asbury Chapel on the Asbury Campus, 6767 S. Mingo Road, Tulsa, Oklahoma,
followed by a casual cookie reception in Asbury’s main lobby. The service will be
livestreamed at www.asburytulsa.org. Dr. Ryan will be privately interred in a green
burial at Woodland Memorial Park Cemetery in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, JoAnn requested that memorial donations be made to the Resonance
Center for Women (resonancetulsa.org) or the Oklahoma State University Foundation
Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Fund (Fund 31-32500) by contacting
TheCowboyWay@OSUgiving.com or calling 405-385-0730.