Obituary of Joshua Russell Baptiste

Joshua Russell Baptiste, age 37, passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Memorial services will be held at 6:00 pm, Saturday, July 13, 2024, in The Chapel at Griffin ~ Hillcrest Funeral Home. Cremation under the direction of Griffin ~ Hillcrest Crematory. Joshua was born at Ada, Oklahoma, on December 24, 1986, to Randy Baptiste and Quenna (Sampson) Hays. He was an Ardmore Tiger throughout his school years and always participated in team sports. He was a graduate of Ardmore High School, Class of 2005. He attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, and ITT Tech in Edmond where he studied computer science. Joshua began working for the Chickasaw Nation in surveillance at Windstar Casino in Thackerville, Okla. A few years later he began working for the Chickasaw Gaming Commission. In 2016, Joshua began dating Kelly Manke. The couple married on May 5, 2017, in Blanchard, Okla. Most recently he worked from home as a contract data analyst. Joshua enjoyed going fishing, attending and supporting his team, OU, golfing anytime he could and traveling to any new place he could. He was preceded in death by his parents, maternal grandmother, Irene Mose, paternal grandfather, Dolph Baptiste, nephew, David Allen Holybee, Jr., and sister, Brandice Provost. Joshua is survived by his wife, Kelly, and son, Jacoby of Yukon, Okla. Brother, Vincent Baptiste, sister, Amanda Bellard and husband, Jamacial, and grandmother, Betty Baptiste, all of Ardmore, Okla. Parents-in-law, Kevin and JoAnn Manke of Blanchard, Okla. Aunts: Rebecca Baptiste, Raquel Baptiste, Barbara Shoemaker, and Joyce Sampson, all of Ardmore, and uncle, Arch Baptiste and wife, Peggy, of Magnolia, Kentucky. Niece, BreAnna Holybee and nephew, King Holybee. Serving as honorary bearers will be Vince Baptiste, Trey Baptiste, Tylen Baptiste, Jeron Booker, Jamacial Bellard, Zach Sampson, and all of his Tau Kappa Epsilon Brothers. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Joshua’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org.