Wilma Joy Kerley

Wilma Joy (Stewart) Kerley, 94, of Duncan, Oklahoma passed from this life Thursday, July 2, 2026, in the Marlow Nursing and Rehabilitation.

Services will be 10:00 AM Thursday, July 9, 2026, in the Ray of Hope Church. Interment will follow in the Ft. Sill National Veterans Cemetery under the direction of the Bailes-Polk Funeral Home.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Joy was born at home on April 16, 1932, in Duncan, Oklahoma. She attended Empire School and Married Walter (Bud) Kerley at the age of seventeen in the courthouse in Henrietta, Texas. They moved to Oceanside, California while Bud was in the Marine Corp at Camp Pendleton and while he was serving on a ship in the Korean War. Joy served her local church playing piano. At the end of Bud's military service, they came back to Duncan. They both served in leadership roles at Bethel Assembly of God Church. Bud and Joy bought 40 acres west of Duncan after inheriting cattle from his parents. In1965 they both felt called by God to turn the acreage into a retreat for teenagers. They wanted to give the youth of their community fun activities and a place to commune with God.

Their monthly themed Teen Round Up meetings attracted crowds from 200 to 2,000 with buses of young people coming from all over Oklahoma and surrounding states. They also began receiving opportunities in the 1960s to travel, sing and speak at various churches and venues all across the United States. This ministry grew larger than they ever expected and it helped to promote the youth camp. They recorded five family albums with their two children, Kim and Karla, singing a few of Joy's original compositions. They began missionary work in Japan, Mexico, Africa, Hawaii and Israel. Joy established a marriage ministry, speaking at seminars, hosting classes and authoring two books.

Joy is known worldwide for her bubbly personality, anointed preaching and famous laugh. She has mentored thousands of people, many of which became ministers of the Gospel, through her personal ministry, preaching, her books and music.

She is preceded in death by her parents Pete and Pearl Stewart, four siblings Allene, Troy, Lorraine and Ernest Stewart, Spouse Bud Keley, son Kim Kerley, nephews Alex Ross, Michael Stewart, Russ Stewart and Joshua Perkins.

She is survived by her daughter Karla Craft and husband Terry; grandsons Kyle Lewis and spouse Kaitlyn, Collin Lewis and spouse Daniella, Chaz Rains and spouse Brittany; daughter-in-law Roxanne Straight and spouse Mike; grandson Calvin Kerley; granddaughters Mary Jane Froehilch and spouse Jim and Bethany Hall; great grandsons Memphis Rains, Maverick Rains, Jonathan Perkins, Jake Perkins, Michael Price, great granddaughters Teddy Rains, Hallie Ramsey, Jayden Perkins, Ally Price; great, great granddaughter Josie Keller; great, great grandson Elias Hall and several nieces and nephews.