Emma Joy Witten

Born on August 16th, 1919, in Wichita, Kansas, Emma Joy was the second child and only daughter of Virginia and Richard V. Brantley and sister to Mitchell, R.V., Danny and twins Roy and Ray. The family moved to Oklahoma City where Emma attended school and helped raise her brothers. She started her career with the Periodical Publishing Service which led to a position with P.F. Collier & Sons. While there she was promoted to a job that took her to New Orleans. She cracked us up with stories of how she and her roommate used to spray the cockroaches with glow in the dark paint and watch them run around the walls. She had a great sense of humor and was a great listener. People were drawn to her caring nature and strong independent spirit which led her to take fun trips with her family and friends. She enjoyed attending church, taking walks and reading. She was known as the rock of the family and will be missed. Upon her return to Oklahoma City, Emma decided to take courses in fingerprinting with the goal to join the State Crime Bureau in criminology. However, that changed when in March 1942 she accepted a position with MGM and started an exciting career on Film Row in downtown OKC where she earned multiple promotions. In 1948, she married the love of her life, Richard "Dick" Witten, a WWII Veteran who later became a CPA with HUD. They started their life in Tulsa, OK but soon moved back to Oklahoma City where they raised four children - Richard, Ann, Carol and Nancy. Emma's legacy extends three generations with ten grandchildren – Renee, Sean and Jon (Richard); Dustin and Eric (Carol); Brian, Michelle, Angela, and Chris (Nancy); Great-grandchildren are Tori and Amelia (Brian); Alecse, Emma, and Tyles (Michelle), Trevor (Angela); Briesyn, RJ and Madisyn (Jon); Taylor, Ethan and Wyatt (Sean); Travis (Renee), one great-great grandson, Brody (Alecse) and multiple nieces and nephews. A Christian woman, Emma showed love and acceptance to everyone and truly demonstrated the love of Christ. Emma will be missed but we choose to celebrate her rejoining her husband, parents and those brothers who have gone on before her with Christ Jesus. We are comforted knowing she will continue to pray and look over those of us left behind. We look forward to the day that we will see her again.