Joseph (Joe) Perry Pulliam, 65, passed away on Friday, April 11, 2025. Joe was born on February 6, 1960 in Somerville, Tennessee to James Perry and Nelda Dodson Pulliam. Joe was born the oldest of 6 children who all enjoyed great mischief with each other. He grew up in several towns in Tennessee, including: Somerville, Westover, and Humboldt before the family moved to Clinton, Oklahoma in 1974, and then settling in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1976. As a child, Joe loved to play football, basketball, and baseball. Joe graduated from Eisenhower High School (IKE) in 1978, and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. While in the Army, Joe attended basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and then was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and worked at the West Point Academy as a Field Artillery Trainer, eventually ending his Army career in Fort Hood, Texas. He was honorably discharged as Sergeant, 17C, United States Army, 101st Airborne in 1981.

After being discharged from the Army, Joe worked in construction in Dallas and as a carpenter for Carpenter's Union in Oklahoma City and for T.P. Enterprises in Lawton. Later, he worked as a Job Superintendent for Richard Joseph Co. in Sparks, Nevada, eventually landing a job as Superintendent for Maverick Framing. Since 2015, Joe worked at Goodyear as a Journeyman Millwright and recently retired to spend more time with his family.

Joe, or 'Papa Joe' as he was affectionately called, loved the lake—it was one of his favorite places in the world. He felt at peace there, whether he was fishing, taking the grandkids for a boat ride, or just sitting on the deck watching the sunrise over the water, with a cup of coffee. Some of our best memories were made by his side at the lake, where his laughter and stories seemed to float on the breeze. Joe also shared a beautiful life with his loving wife, who stood by him through every season. He welcomed his stepchildren with open arms and treated them as his own, always full of kindness and support. His face lit up around his grandchildren and great-grandchildren—he was their biggest fan, always ready with a smile, a hug, or a helping hand. Joe's love for his family and the lake ran deep, and those two things brought him so much joy. His memory will live on in all of us.

Joe was a "Jack of All Trades" who could build fix or repair anything and took great pride in his work. He was a master with a pool cue and loved to Karaoke with Dorothy any chance they got. Joe will be missed by family, friends and all who knew him.

He is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Dorothy Pulliam, his stepchildren Sedric Donald Flynn, Harry Allen Flynn and wife Kathy Flynn, Angela Denise Green and husband Bobby Green, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his father, Perry Pulliam (Laverne), brother Charlie Pulliam (Mary), brother Tony Pulliam (Debbi), brother Marty Pulliam (Robin), sister Periann Pulliam (Phillip Wood), sister Janet Pulliam (Jim) and a multitude of nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his mother, Nelda Dodson Pulliam, and his beloved Aunt Shirlee Sanders.

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel

The service may be viewed by following the livestream link at www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.

Burial with military honors will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.