Joe Henry Staley

Joe Henry Staley, 77, of Stillwater, went to his heavenly home on Monday, November 14, 2022, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Funeral services have been entrusted to the care of Dighton-Marler Funeral Home of Stillwater.

Joe was born on January 21st, 1945, in Pawnee, Oklahoma to Carol “Monk” Staley and Nora Mabel (Potter) Staley. Joe grew up in Glencoe, Oklahoma before moving to Stillwater at the age of 14, where he attended and graduated from Stillwater High School in 1963. He was married to Christine Bowman for 22 years, from 1966 to 1989. He later married Sheila Gardner for 29 years from, 1990 to 2019.

Joe first began his law enforcement career with Oklahoma State University as a security officer in 1968, before OSU had a modern police department. He then worked for the Payne County Sherriff’s Office from 1970 through 1982 as a deputy. Following this time, Joe became the first District Attorney’s Office Investigator for Payne and Logan Counties. Joe worked as the DA’s Investigator for 34 years until he made a final return to the Payne County Sheriff’s Office as a civil paper service deputy from 2016 to 2020. Upon his final retirement he had accumulated over 52 years of service in law enforcement.

Joe had many hobbies, some of his favorites were playing on a traveling softball team in his younger years, golf, and snow skiing. Joe was an avid OSU fan. He was described by many as having a very humble spirit with a heart of gold that never met a stranger. Always jumping to the opportunity to talk to anyone he met.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his children, Angela Wilburn, Jason Staley, Scott Staley, Sean Staley and fiancée Rachel Millard all of Stillwater, OK; sister, Carol Gattenby of Garland, TX, brother, Donald Staley and companion Deanna LaRue of Glencoe, OK; Joe was blessed to have four grandchildren, Josh, Dillon, Jaren, Declan; and three great grandchildren.

For those who are not able to attend the service, it can be viewed live or later by following the link in the tribute wall section of the obituary on the Dighton-Marler Funeral Home Website.

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