Joyce Ann Leonard
November 1, 1937 — October 31, 2023
Joyce Ann Leonard was born to Bessie and Lawrence Leonhard in Lawrence, Kansas on November 1, 1937.
Joyce was raised on the farm but due to severe allergies her activities were mainly inside.
In her early years, she attended a one-room school, Oak Ridge. She walked to and from school every day with her brothers, Wayne and Ralph. Eventually the 3 of them went to "town school" which was a big deal. She rode with her brothers in a 1939 cabover that the family named the Red Wonder. It was a wonder it got them to where they were going. In high school, she played the cello in the orchestra and sang in an acapella choir. She was active in the Pep Club and belonged to the National Federation of Music Clubs. Joyce played in many piano recitals. All the pieces were memorized and one time, when she couldn't remember how the piece ended, she just kept going around in circles until it finally clicked.
Her family was very active in 4-H and she started attending meetings at a very young age. She participated in all aspects of the program including holding offices, mentoring younger 4-H members, being involved in cooking, and many sewing projects. She took many honors at the State Fair in Hutchinson, Kansas.
She met Jerry on a blind date during her freshman year at Kansas State in Manhattan. They were married on August 18, 1957, and were married 57 years until the time of Jerry's death in 2014. When they moved to Harlan in 1997 it was the 6th time they had moved, started over making friends, etc. They had visited Grace Baptist Church during visits to Harlan so they knew that it would be their church home.
Joyce accepted the Lord as her Savior on June 29, 1960, in Auburn Washington. It was a life-changing experience and one that she counted as a blessing. She considered that to be what helped her through the loss of her two sons and especially the loss of her husband whom she loved very much.
Joyce's hobbies were reading, counted cross stitch, jig saw, and crossword puzzles. In retirement years, she was always ready to go somewhere. Once she was listening to Chuck Swindoll on the way to work in California and he was talking about an Alaska Cruise for his listeners. She called Jerry when she got to work and told him she knew where they could go for their next trip. His response was "I didn't know we were planning a next trip." They did go on the cruise and had a wonderful time.
Joyce passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, obtaining the age of 85 years 11 months and 30 days. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, two sons, parents, and brother, Wayne. She is survived by her daughter, Melanie (Tim Thomas) McCormick of Fulshear, TX; grandson, Sean McCormick of Houston, TX; brother, Ralph Leonhard of Berryton, KS; niece & nephews; Gina Schumann, John Leonhard, Wade Leonhard, and Jeff Leonhard; other family members and friends.
Joyce was raised on the farm but due to severe allergies her activities were mainly inside.
In her early years, she attended a one-room school, Oak Ridge. She walked to and from school every day with her brothers, Wayne and Ralph. Eventually the 3 of them went to "town school" which was a big deal. She rode with her brothers in a 1939 cabover that the family named the Red Wonder. It was a wonder it got them to where they were going. In high school, she played the cello in the orchestra and sang in an acapella choir. She was active in the Pep Club and belonged to the National Federation of Music Clubs. Joyce played in many piano recitals. All the pieces were memorized and one time, when she couldn't remember how the piece ended, she just kept going around in circles until it finally clicked.
Her family was very active in 4-H and she started attending meetings at a very young age. She participated in all aspects of the program including holding offices, mentoring younger 4-H members, being involved in cooking, and many sewing projects. She took many honors at the State Fair in Hutchinson, Kansas.
She met Jerry on a blind date during her freshman year at Kansas State in Manhattan. They were married on August 18, 1957, and were married 57 years until the time of Jerry's death in 2014. When they moved to Harlan in 1997 it was the 6th time they had moved, started over making friends, etc. They had visited Grace Baptist Church during visits to Harlan so they knew that it would be their church home.
Joyce accepted the Lord as her Savior on June 29, 1960, in Auburn Washington. It was a life-changing experience and one that she counted as a blessing. She considered that to be what helped her through the loss of her two sons and especially the loss of her husband whom she loved very much.
Joyce's hobbies were reading, counted cross stitch, jig saw, and crossword puzzles. In retirement years, she was always ready to go somewhere. Once she was listening to Chuck Swindoll on the way to work in California and he was talking about an Alaska Cruise for his listeners. She called Jerry when she got to work and told him she knew where they could go for their next trip. His response was "I didn't know we were planning a next trip." They did go on the cruise and had a wonderful time.
Joyce passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, obtaining the age of 85 years 11 months and 30 days. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry, two sons, parents, and brother, Wayne. She is survived by her daughter, Melanie (Tim Thomas) McCormick of Fulshear, TX; grandson, Sean McCormick of Houston, TX; brother, Ralph Leonhard of Berryton, KS; niece & nephews; Gina Schumann, John Leonhard, Wade Leonhard, and Jeff Leonhard; other family members and friends.
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