Joyce Eileen Wollard, 87, of Excelsior Springs, Mo., passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 10, 2019 at Garden Terrace in Overland Park, Kans.
Joyce was born August 2, 1931 in Abilene, Kans., and received her teaching degree from William Jewell College. While raising her family, she was a teacher and substitute teacher. She loved music her entire life, relished a good book; and doted on her precious dogs “Snowby” and “Tux”. She always took advantage of any opportunity for laughter and thoroughly enjoyed being teased by her kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and others. She could give it back as well as she took it. Being a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandma and great-grandma was the greatest joy of her life.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Wollard, and her parents, Ted and Norma Wheeler.
She is survived by her sisters, Maxine King (Charles) and Marilyn Alexander; her four children, Steve (Lynn), Dave (Terri), Sharon, and Phil (Ellen); seven grandchildren, Laura Leeper (Jamie), Joey Wollard (Cassidy), Kevin Wollard, Laci McClelland (Ryan), Blake Wollard (Larissa), Emily Wollard and Drew Wollard; nine great-grandchildren; and “Joycee’s girls”, Darla Buckley, Carol Gonzales, Kelly Shanks and Kristy Stallings.
The family wishes to express their immense gratitude to the wonderful Garden Terrace staff, who has become family, for their loving care of Joyce the past few years and to the end.
Services will be held Monday, January 14, 2019 at the Bross & Spidle Funeral Home in Excelsior Springs, Mo., with visitation and service from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon, followed by burial at Hillcrest Cemetery in Excelsior Springs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Liberty Meals on Wheels at Liberty Community Center, 1600 S. Withers Road, Liberty, MO 64068.
Our Sincere Condolences
Joyce was such a fun, sweet, and entertaining roommate for my Grandma Betty at Garden Terrace! I enjoyed talking with her and I appreciated how sweet she was to check on my grandma and look after her. I have a lot of good and funny memories of Joyce, and am grateful that meeting her meant meeting Sharon and the whole family. You all are great and you all are in my prayers. Much love!
– Anna Adams
Joyce, your spirit lives on in your family and a friendship I treasure. I’ll keep fond memories of our “evening in Ireland.”
Nancy Hall
With the sincerest sympathy for your family in the loss of a beloved daughter, grandma and great grandmother.
Know that now she is in heaven with God.
I am sure you will remember that she would want you to keep her memory alive in your hearts and thoughts of her.
I am sure she would tell each of you of the love she had for each of you.
She is now reunited with her husband and loved ones that had gone to be with God.
She would want you to know that she has went to provide a place for you.
God Bless
Rev. Buster Roper
Joyce was a very special friend of mine. We clicked the first day I met her and bonded over our love of the French language. One of the first things I said to her was “Bonjour Madame” and the last thing was “Je t’aime beaucoup”. I will miss our conversations about her childhood, her parents (Norma and Ted) and her 4 children that she loved more than anything. I loved her beautiful smile and spunky personality. She will be forever in my heart and I thank her children for sharing her with me, if only for a brief time.
Julie Caffrey
