Anita Dawson

Graveside services for Anita Joyce Smith Dawson will be held at 1:00 pm Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Ravia Cemetery in Ravia, Oklahoma with Chaplain Luke Gage officiating. Buddy Dawson, Kyle Dawson, Jesse Argenbright, Joshua Argenbright, Erik Robins, Paul Smith, Mike Smith, Jason Duncan, and Johnnie Duncan will be serving as honorary pallbearers.

Anita Joyce Smith Dawson, age 83, of Ardmore, Oklahoma entered her eternal home in Heaven on May 29, 2026, in Madill, Oklahoma. Anita was born February 5, 1943, in Barstow, California to Evert Willie Smithand Edith Alizabeth Denham Smith.

Anita was better known as Joyce or Grandma Joyce to family and friends. She lived most of her life in California or Oklahoma in which she preferred California over Oklahoma. She obtained her GED in 1984 from the California Board of Education. She attended classes at Porterville College in Porterville, California working for her associate’s degree in 1980 and again in 1990 all while trying to work full time jobs. She completed computer classes in 2011 in California. She had a long work history over her life span. She was a cashier and sales associate for Wal-Mart in Oklahoma and California, made safety equipment for Miller’s Equipment in California, worked in healthcare as a home health aide, hospice caregiver, and a medical assistant. She also worked at the Old Dee’s Factory in Tishomingo, Oklahoma years ago as a seamstress in which she became hooked on sewing. She was also a foster parent.

Anita enjoyed spending time with family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved sewing, baking/cooking, going to the ocean, driving through the Redwoods in California, decorating and dressing up and she was very musically inclined. She taught herself to play the piano, keyboards, guitars, banjo, accordion, harmonica, and violin – most any instrument she tried. She was Pentecostal by faith and loved to sing in church but mostly she loved her companion dog, Dolly and collecting porcelain dolls.

Anita is survived by her son, George “Buddy” Dawson and his spouse Brenda of Mannsville, Oklahoma; daughter, Ginger Davis of Yukon, Oklahoma; grandsons, Kyle Dawson of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Jesse Argenbright of Apple Valley, California, Joshua Argenbright of Yukon, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Leslie Silva of Yukon, Oklahoma; great grandchildren, Gracelyn, Gavin, Liam, Kyzer, Drayden, Evan, Elijah, Emalee-Kay, Ethan, JJ, Everleigh, and Steven; sisters-in-law, Ramona Smith of Ardmore, Oklahoma; numerous nieces, nephews, friends and families; and those that called her Grandma Joyce and her dog, Dolly.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents; an infant daughter, Gayla Edith Dawson; brothers, Donald and Arnie Smith; sister, Brenda Duncan and her beloved grandson, Corbin Jarrett (C.J.) Dawson.

“Joyce was the best mother-in-law ever. I love you and will miss you dearly, Brenda Dawson.”