Joyce Kay Carroll

Joyce Kay Carroll, 71, of Bolivar, passed away Wednesday, February 8, 2012, after a courageous 2 year battle with cancer. With the excellent care of CMH Hospice, she was able to spend her final days at home with her family before going to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Joyce was born in Marceline, Missouri, the daughter of George Delbert and Barbara Lee Henry Stith. Joyce's family moved to the Kansas City area where she graduated from high school and went on to attend Hannibal-LaGrange College, Hannibal,Missouri, where she received an Associate of Arts degree. She then attended the University of Missouri, Columbia, where she received her BS in Nursing in 1964. It was at MU where she met her husband of 48 years, James K. Carroll. Joyce also obtained a Master's degree in Nursing from Kansas University and later a Post-Master's Degree in Nursing from the University of Missouri. She spent almost 50 years working in the healthcare field including time working as a Head Start Nurse, a Polk County Public Health Nurse, and as a nurse-practioner in the Springfield/Rogersville area. She was an Assistant Professor of Nursing at SBU School of Nursing, Bolivar, from 2000-2010, and retired from Citizens Memorial Healthcare in November 2011 as a nurse practitioner. Joyce was a member of the Sweet Adeline Society of Bolivar from 1965-67; taught Sunday School, was pianist and organist at churches and schools, and sang in church choirs. She belonged to the SBU Womens Club, the Kitchen Clinic in Springfield, and was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Bolivar. Joyce is survived by her husband, James K. Carroll of the home, sons David K. Carroll and wife Paige of Plano, Iowa; Michael W. Carroll and wife Jill of Overland Park, Kansas; daughter Deanna K. Carroll of Springfield; 5 grandchildren Brianna, Kaleb, Mackenzie, Makayla, and Micah Carroll; a brother Dean Stith and wife Susan of Kansas City, Missouri,; numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, February 18 at the First Baptist Church, Bolivar, officiated by Dr. Bill Hooper, with visitation to be held from 9 - 11 AM prior to the service on Saturday. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions in honor of Joyce Carroll may be given to the Southwest Baptist University nursing program or to CMH Hospice in care of Murray Funeral Home. PDF Printable Version

Joyce Kay Carroll

August 28, 1940 - February 8, 2012