Long time Claremore businesswoman and ordained minister
Biography
Joanne Green was born in 1950 in Claremore at the old Franklin Hospital to Junus and Gussie Bentley. She was raised with 5 siblings on a farm north of Claremore near the Round Mound. Joanne was the last and only first grade student at Owalla School before it was consolidated.
Joanne started work at the age of 15 in Claremore at Roy’s café making fifty cents an hour plus tips. Back then, customers usually gave a nickel to a quarter for her service. She worked at Howard Johnson’s, Goodyear Tire and Rogers County Bank before marrying Ira Green at the age of 18. Claremore has always been her home. Mainstreet during her younger days was McClellan’s, Anthony’s, Montgomery Wards, Ernie’s Pool Hall, the movie theatre, Wilson’s Hardware, and Will Rogers and Mason Hotels. Dr. Gordon was her physician and he operated above the Rexall Drugstore.
Ira and Joanne started Ira M. Green Construction 1969. They both loved construction and worked hard together – they were a team! They raised 3 children of their own Brian, Brent and Julie. Ira’s daughter Vanessa also came to live with them in 1975. Ira’s son, Lonnie Roy died in a train wreck in 1977.
Ira passed away in 1996 with an aneurysm and Joanne continued in their legacy with her children and it is still going strong today. She became an ordained minister for the Little Rock Church several years ago and still gives thanks to God for leading her in this journey.