Funeral services for Donald Joice, 91, Pottersville, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Elijah Church of Christ, under t he direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.
Mr. Joice passed away at 8:35 p.m., Sunday, September 8, 2024, at his home.
He was born July 5, 1933, near Leota, Missouri, to the late Willard and Etta Hardcastle Joice. On June 24, 1955, he was married to the love of his life Emilie Spoon, at Benton Harbor, Michigan. This union added a very large extended family for Donald which he loved as his own. Donald and Emilie were blessed with 4 children. Donald worked at Southwest Truck Body for over 30 years and the International Shoe factory for over 10 years. After retiring he built log homes including their current family home. Donald was a self-taught electrician, plumber, mechanic, carpenter and overall handy man. It would be hard to find a family in Howell or Ozark County that he hasn’t positively impacted. Donald and Emilie were known for their family garden and were always willing to share with the community. Their family tradition was digging potatoes on his birthday with mom preparing the morning breakfast. It was a day we all looked forward to. Donald had a big heart and considered most of the friends and classmates of his kids his family. He loved watching his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids playing their sports. They would travel throughout southern Missouri and northern Arkansas to watch the area teams play. Donald served on the Elijah Cemetery board for over 39 years and as president over the Bakersfield School Board for a term. Donald was a member of the Elijah Church of Christ for over 64 years, a shining example of a Christian man, leaving his family a legacy to live by.
Donald is survived by his wife, Emilie, of the family home; four children, Donald (Boag) Joice Jr. and wife, Rhonda, of Squires, Missouri, Mary Sexton and husband, Billy, Bruce Joice and wife, Linda, all of Caulfield, Missouri and Tina Mann and husband, Gary, of West Plains, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren, Melissa Dalton and husband, Aaron, Jessica Joice and fiancé, Clint, Bruce Joice Jr., Trista Hall and husband, Byron, Cary Joice and wife, Kyra, Emilie Brotherton and husband, Jeremy, Donald (Drew) Joice III and wife, Hannah, Thomas Simpson and wife, Jessica, Payton LaFevers, Aimee Morrison and husband, Chris, Angela Walker and husband, Fred, Billy Sexton and wife, Keeley and Nathan Mann and fiancé, Brittiny; twenty-one great-grandchildren; one brother, Earl Joice and wife, Romana; one sister, Stella Collins; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father, his father and mother-in law, Tommy and Snowie Tackitt Spoon, two brothers, Ernest and Charles, and three sisters, Helen, Dorothy and Mabel.
Visitation services will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in Elijah Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to Elijah Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775.
