Joyce E. Cox, 96, of Waverly, IA, and formerly of Moberly, MO, passed away on Monday, July 8 at Waverly Health Center. Per her request, no funeral services are planned. The Parrott and Wood Chapel of Memories in Waterloo, IA, is serving the family.
Joyce Eileen Danner was born on January 31, 1928, in La Plata, MO, to Arther Danner and Zelma (Albright) Danner. Joyce grew up in La Plata, and graduated from high school 1946. While in high school, she lettered in basketball and played on the undefeated girls’ team in 1945. After graduation, she moved with her family to Moberly, MO, and began work at the Brown Shoe Factory. On a beautiful summer afternoon in 1947, she met a young Marine home from the war named Norman Ray. He was a lifeguard at Rothwell Park when she caught his eye. They soon fell in love and were engaged September 24. They were married Christmas Eve 1947 at West Park Methodist Church in Moberly.
After a stint in Oklahoma and New Mexico, where Norman attended baking school, they moved back to Moberly. Together they built their home on Garfield Avenue, where many happy years were lived, raising their family. In May 1950 their first child, a daughter named Nancy Joyce, was born, followed by their second daughter, Janet Eileen, in October 1952. Norman passed away unexpectedly in June 1975. Joyce continued to work at Westlake’s Hardware in bookkeeping and sang with the Sweet Adelines choral group.
In November 1977 Joyce began a new career with the AB Chance Corporation, based in Centralia, MO, as their insurance clerk. She became acquainted with a friendly security officer at Chance named W.L. (Dub) Cox. They began dating, and eventually married on December 22, 1978, at the First Christian Church in Centralia.
The couple shared many happy years together on their first and second acreages, both located south of Centralia. Dub and Joyce hosted many bonfire gatherings with their families and spent lots of enjoyable times with all of the grandchildren. They were avid Missouri Tigers fans and attended many sporting events over the years, building lasting friendships with those seated nearby. Eventually, they both retired and moved into Centralia. Dub passed away in June 2006, and Joyce made her final move, north to Waverly, IA, to live close to her daughter Nancy and her family. She enjoyed decorating her condo, walking in her neighborhood and watching tennis—especially her “heartthrob”, Rafa Nadal. She remained a Mizzou fan to the very end.
Joyce is survived by her daughter, Nancy Shea, of New Hampton, IA; grandchildren Kelly Shea of Sumner, IA; Jenny Parsons (Doug) of Ogden, IA; Adriane Janssen (Dave) of Bridgeport, WV; and Ryan Kingston (Shonnette) of Fairmont, WV; great-grandchildren Andrew Corson (Cecilia) of Ames, IA; Nick Parsons of Cedar Rapids, IA; Payton Janssen and Sidney Janssen of Bridgeport, WV; her sister-in-law Margie Danner of Vacaville, CA; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law; both of her husbands; her brother Donald Danner; her sister and brother-in-law Betty Faye and Shelton Pearson; her daughter Janet (Ray) Kingston; son-in-law Tim Shea; and great-grandson Zachary “Ben” Corson.
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