Joyce Spears Steele
Funeral services for Joyce Earlene Vollmar Spears Steele, 95, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, July 26, 2019 at First Christian Church, West Plains, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mrs. Steele passed away at 11:19 a.m., Monday, July 22, 2019 at Ozarks Medical Center.
She was born May 30, 1924, at Cabool, Missouri, to Earl Lester Vollmar and Thelma Ilene Woodruff Vollmar. Joyce graduated from Cabool High School with the Class of 1942. On May 31, 1942, she was married at San Diego, California, to Warren G. Spears, who preceded her in death on July 19, 1982. On June 9, 2001, she was married at Fenwick Island, Delaware, to Louis Steele, who preceded her in death on May 25, 2014. Joyce was a business woman and ran her family’s property management business. She lived in Cabool, Missouri for thirty years, moved to West Plains where she resided for fifty-two years and Fenwick Island, Delaware for thirteen years. Since 1970, Joyce was a snowbird, traveling to Bokeelia and Saint James City, Florida. Mrs. Steele was a member of First Christian Church, West Plains and during her time spent in Florida, she attended United Methodist Church, Pine Island, Florida.
She is survived by her one son, Rickey Lee Spears and wife, Pat, Longmont, Colorado; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Williams and husband, Wayne, Justin Spears and wife, Trena, Loren Spears and wife, Jamie and Stacy Whiteside and husband, Robert; five great-grandchildren, Austin Williams, Audrey Drumright and husband, Hayden, Annetta Overstreet and husband, Clay, Blake Spears and Clay Rucker and wife, Kari; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Her parents, husbands and one son, Rodney Warren Spears and his wife Carrol Spears, preceded her in death.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Cabool Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church Diaper Ministry and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Melinda (Burgess) King
July 24, 2019 @ 2:42 pm
Liz
My heart breaks for you and your family. May your memories sustain you til you see your grandmother again. Imagine that reunion in Heaven and let that bring a smile to your face and your heart.
Melinda
David P Thompson
July 24, 2019 @ 9:10 pm
Liz, We are so sorry for your loss of a precious grandmother. We loved her and enjoyed her in our Sunday School Class. We will miss her so much. Praying for you and your family.
David and Carrie Thompson
Dolly Starkey-Windau
July 25, 2019 @ 9:10 am
Joyce was a wonderful person. My family got to know her when we would visit Pine Island every spring break. My 3 kids just loved her, she would take time out to show the kids how to paint and was very patient with them. What a generous heart. Always had a smile and a cup of coffee in hand. She will be truly missed.
Dolly and Joe
Chelsie Starkey
Joey Starkey
David Starkey
Ron & Linda Hayes
July 25, 2019 @ 10:20 am
The first time I met Joyce, was at a family gathering at Sandra’s house a few years ago. Joyce immediately addressed me from her corner of the couch and asked me my name, and who I was and what did I do, and so on. I was so impressed at the sincere interest this woman showed in me, and everyone. I liked her immediately. Fast forward, as I had more opportunities to spend with Joyce….she loved to listen to us all sing karaoke and would attend these events whenever she could. She told us all one time “Enough of the sad songs, sing something happy!” She was a great lady and I liked her immensely. I hope I can be and live like she did, always going strong and jumping into life the way it’s meant to be. I am praying for all of her family ( of which I am proud to be a part of). Grief is hard, but oh the good memories to sustain us and keep us thinking of her and feeling blessed to have had her in our lives. FLY WITH THE ANGELS SWEET LADY.
Marilyn Starkey
July 25, 2019 @ 5:55 pm
She was a mother like to Dsle and I Iwould come down and stay with her after Lou died will miss and love then both so sorry for your loss what a wonder friend god bless you Rick and Pat