Joyce LaVerne Johnston was born June 7, 1933, to Harold and Lorena DeHart in Grady County, OK. As a child, Joyce loved the outdoors, often recalling her 2-1/2 mile walk to and from school each day. During World War II her family moved to Oakridge, TN where her father did his part for the war effort. It was here that having made a profession of faith a few years earlier, Joyce was baptized at the age of 12 at First Baptist Church, Clinton, TN. In the years after the war the family would live for a time in Tulsa and Henryetta. Her high school years were spent at Ninnekah and Duncan High School.

Joyce began dating Edward Johnston early in 1950 and after six months, one month following her 17th birthday, they were married in a private ceremony on July 15, 1950. Following their marriage, their home was established in Duncan where she finished her senior year, graduating in 1951. In 1952 Edward joined the Air Force and seven months following his deployment overseas, Joyce gave birth to daughter, Kelli Kristine in Oct 1953. It would be another 13 months before Edward returned home. He was then stationed at Vance AFB in Enid where daughter, Cynthia Dianne, was born in Nov 1955. Moving back to Duncan upon his discharge five months later, Joyce gave birth to their first son, Michael Edward, in Oct 1956. In 1958 the family moved to OKC where their son, Stephen Eugene, was born in Dec 1959.

Joyce served faithfully as a volunteer in her church in the following positions: worship leader, Bible teacher, ladies’ auxiliary president, GA sponsor, children’s and youth choir director, organist, VBS coordinator and full-time children’s director. Her ability and creativity were obvious in her singing, cooking, sewing, painting, gardening and flower-arranging. Piano teacher, artist, student, bookkeeper, and caregiver are all words which describe Joyce.

Preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Edward Eugene Johnston; parents, Harold and Lorena (White) DeHart; son, Michael Edward Johnston; sister, Marjorie Nelson, and brothers, Harold R. DeHart and Charles DeHart, Joyce is survived by two sisters, Carolyn Sue Manley of Burkburnett, TX and Linda Sanford of Wiley, CO; children, Kelli Keller of Fayetteville, AR, Cindy Wallace of the home, Steve and wife, Teresa Johnston and daughter-in-law, Carol Johnston, all of OKC; 11 grandchildren—Ron Wallace, Kristen Keller, Kevin Wallace, Melissa “Joy” Keller Montero, Tabitha Johnston Carpenter, Amy Keller Pfeiffer, Joey Wallace, Erin Johnston Coleman, Matthew Johnston, Ryan Johnston, and Brian Keller; 33 great-grandchildren—Freedom Wallace Allard, Scotland Wallace, Elijah Wallace, Julia Wallace, Patience Wallace, Tatum Coleman Webb, Jonathan Trueblood, Malachi Wallace, Avery Trueblood, Logan Coleman, Audrina Johnston, Acer Carpenter, Haiden Johnston, Mason Wallace, Lily Carpenter, Elliott Coleman, Josiah Trueblood, Liam Wallace, Adrienne “Joyce” Trueblood, Gavin Wallace, River Carpenter, Selah Johnston, Lydia Pfeiffer, Nora Wallace, Royce Johnston, Thomas Pfeiffer, Sterling Johnston, Judah Johnston, Jack Keller, Faye Wallace, and Penelope “Joy” Keller; two step-grandchildren, Julia and Ellie Pfeiffer, and great-great grandchildren, Jayce Traylor and soon to arrive, Ruth Louise Allard.

Many women have done noble deeds, but you surpass them all!

Proverbs 31:29