Joyce Miller (Hartville)'s Obituary
Joyce Lynette "Joy" Yeager (Mobley Miller), daughter of Dean and Berniece Curtright Yeager, was born 31 March 1955 in California, MO. She departed this life 30 April, 2017 at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, MO at the age of 62.
Joy was the living embodiment of her name. She embraced her family legacy of gospel and bluegrass music with passion and praise. Joy loved to express her faith through her voice, especially when harmonizing with her sisters.
After graduating from Hartville High School, Joy married Danny Mobley in 1973. Joy pursued an education after her divorce in 1979. She worked diligently as a single mother and student taking a variety of difficult jobs to pay for necessities and tuition. As anyone who knew her can testify, she was a woman of tremendous character and strength.
Joy graduated from SMSU with a Bachelors Degree of Arts and Sciences and a 4.0 GPA. Always a kind and generous place in her heart for anyone in distress, Joy chose to work for several years with children and adults with special needs. Later, she returned to school and was proud to become a Speech Pathologist. She worked in the Missouri Public School system until she retired.
Although she loved her home and family more than anything, she was thrilled by traveling to exotic places including the Bahamas, Italy, Jordan, and Egypt, where she was swept away by dreams and adventure.
A fun and whimsical spirit. Joy and her sisters, Deena and Brenda, along with their Uncle Jack continued a tradition created by her mother, Berniece. They travel somewhere every year, without fail, to celebrate each other’s birthdays with lots of food, stories, and shenanigans.
This is how we remember our Joy. An uncontainable laughter. A headstrong contender. When she would sing, her daughter would believe in angels. Artist. Writer. Believer. Confidant. Devoted Grandma. Arms open. Home. A smile so big, warm, and safe, a person would think it can't get any better...until you look up and see THOSE EYES.
Joy is survived by her daughter, Dana "Sunny" (Mobley) Kieffer, husband Todd Kieffer and their two children Isaiah "Ocean" Kieffer and Gavrielle "Gavi" Kieffer of Pilot Grove, MO; two sisters, Deena Crisp and husband Eldon of Mountain Grove, MO, and Brenda Douglas of Grovespring, MO; four nieces and nephews, Dennis Crisp and wife Loretta of Lebanon, MO, Angela Riley and husband Charles of Springfield, MO, Penny Archer and husband Duane of Lebanon, MO, Daleana Perez and significant other, Billy Ringer of Grovespring, MO; cherished friends, devoted relatives, and so many dear loved ones; Steve Zehner of Lebanon, MO, his son Steven Zehner of Springfield, MO, and granddaughters Kaydence and Kaylee Zehner; many many great nephews; Great Aunt Betty Austin of Lebanon, Great Uncle Jack Yeager of Hartville, Great Uncle Joe Curtright of Arizona; former husband, Kevin Miller.
Joy is preceded in death by her parents and her brother-in law, Dale Douglas.
Joy loved unconditionally. She had a capacity to find light in people who felt they had none left inside them. She inspired. She was patient. Joy looked at you. She looked for you. It was so easy to delight her. Nothing made her happier than her grandchildren. Having them all under her roof squealing or piling on her lap in the big chair. Spoiling them in some ridiculous way made her glow. She felt blessed. We celebrate her life and all that she has shared with us.
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