Peggy Joyce Askins

Peggy Joyce Corley Askins, passed away of natural causes, in her home on Thursday, March 7, 2024. Peggy was born August 1, 1935, in Fame, Oklahoma to Evadew Bruce Corley and Carlon C. Corley. After graduating from Stidham High School her family moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma so she could attend Oklahoma Baptist University. She graduated OBU in June 1957 and married fellow OBU graduate, Donald W. Askins (Duncan, Oklahoma) on August 24, 1957.

She moved with her new husband to Ft. Worth, Texas so he could attend Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. They returned to Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1960 before the birth of their first child, Michael Askins. She also began working at Oklahoma Baptist University in 1960. Their second child, Anna Askins was born just 11 1/2 months later, in 1961. 

Peggy taught courses in Art at OBU, as well as becoming Registrar, shortly after the birth of Anna. During her tenure, she worked with and served terms of office as President of the State, Regional and National Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. While serving offices with ACRAO she worked with registrars from all types of institutions around the United States and in other countries and received numerous accolades and awards for her contributions and innovations. Peggy also wrote a book on how to recognize and deal with fake diplomas and documents, Misrepresentation In The Marketplace and Beyond: Ethics Under Siege.  Peggy instituted many upgrades and advancements in the Registrar’s office at OBU and left a legacy in her more than 50 years tenure.

Peggy and her daughter Anna were quite active at Liberty Baptist for many years. They taught Sunday School, both were members of a worship group at Liberty who participated in The Burn ministry in Shawnee and Seminole. Peggy and Anna were a part of the Jewish dancing ministry. Their love of Israel allowed them to form some great friendships and associations with Messianic Jewish congregations in Israel, in Oklahoma, Florida and Ohio and permitted them to worship with them on such special occasions as Passover and Succot, as well as the weekly Shabat (sabbath) services. She and Anna made 2 trips to Israel with the group from Liberty Baptist.

Peggy’s favorite thing in life was being hostess to any type of celebration. She loved to try new recipes and insert other cultures and cuisines into her dinners and parties, the biggest of which, every year, was the Christmas Eve dinner for the whole family. Themes for these Christmas parties included Christmas from around the world: Mutton and couscous from the Middle East, Shepherd’s Pie and Soda Bread from Ireland, and the unforgettable Reindeer Meatballs from Sweden. 

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Donald, by her parents and her brother, Danny.

Survivors include her daughter Anna of the home and her son Michael and his wife of 41 years, Karen, and their sons Thomas, Timothy and Anthony of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She also has a sister-in-law Carole Corley, and niece Melisa King and nephew Monte Corley, and their families, all of Shawnee Ok.