Joyce Elaine Cox, 78 of Nevada, Mo passed away April 6th,
2025, at Nathan Richards Nursing Home in Nevada, MO. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am
Saturday, April 12, 2025 at the Hume Christian Church in Hume, Missouri. There will be no visitation. Burial will follow in East Liberty Cemetery
near Stotesbury, Missouri. Services
under the direction of Mullinax Funeral Home, Butler (660-679-0009). Memorial contributions may be made to Life
Church Nevada Building Fund. Messages of
condolence may be left for the family at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Joyce was born on May 29th, 1946, to Edward
Clayton and Jessie Marie Moberly in Ft Scott, KS. She graduated from Hume High School in 1964
and was married, to this union, two children were born. Son Michael Earl Sword in 1965 and daughter
Misty Eve Sword in 1972. Joyce studied at Northwest Oklahoma State College,
transferred and graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1979 with a Master
of Business Administration.
Joyce and family lived in several places, Hume, MO, Joplin,
MO, Crane, MO, Commerce, OK and Schell City and Nevada, MO. Joyce and family moved to Schell City in 1979
where she taught in Rich Hill schools for 2 years, then Schell City for 2
years, before taking employment at the Nevada Rehabilitation Center in 1984
where she retired in 2002.
Joyce married Abe Cox in 1994. That same year they owned and operated 71
Motel in Nevada, MO until 2001. While
Joyce was retired, she continued to worked part time at Renwick Insurance
Agency and Bon Voyage Travel in Nevada, MO.
Joyce had a love for the world
around her. She was always immersed in a good book, letting her imagination
roam freely. Joyce had an interest in music and musicals. It’s amazing that she could sing every song
from every musical; it shows just how much she embraced her love for them.
Joyce had an adventurous spirit in the kitchen, always
exploring new recipes and sharing the delicious results with others. And her
warm, open nature made her a friend to everyone she met, sparking conversations
and creating connections wherever she went.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by husband Abe Cox, Nevada,
daughter Misty Bogardus and husband Tim of Schell City and son Michael Sword,
Camdenton, MO. Joyce was blessed with 5
grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.