Services will be held Aug. 24 at Central Christian Church in Jefferson for Joyce Raver, 102, longtime Jefferson resident.
The Rev J. Alexander, pastor of the church, will offer words of comfort. Lori Leach will be soloist, accompanied by Georgene Raver.
Casket bearers will be Darin Leach, David Raver, Craig Kinsman and Scott Kinsman. Interment will be at the Jefferson Municipal Cemetery.
Joyce Arlene Raver, daughter of John and Gladys Blair Averill, was born August 13, 1918, in Greene County. She attended Bristol No. 8 school in Greene County and graduated from Jefferson High School. Joyce received her degree in elementary education from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught school in Beaver for two years before getting married to Warren Raver on June 4, 1939, on her family’s farm.
To this union were born two sons, Stephen and John, and a daughter, Karen. Joyce worked at Sidney’s Jewelry Store and then joined the hot lunch staff for the Jefferson Community Schools, where she remained employed until she retired.
Joyce was a faithful member of Central Christian Church in Jefferson. She taught Sunday School, sang in the choir and played the piano for Sunday School for 50 years. She and husband Warren were youth sponsors for several years. She was a circle leader, CWF president and a member of several functional committees during her lifetime.
Her hobbies included sewing, quilting, reading and serving as a volunteer at the local food pantry. Her beautifully embroidered tea towels were donated to and sold at the hospital Gift Shop and every child and grandchild is a proud owner of one of her exquisitely hand crafted quilts. After her husband Warren passed away in 2006, she moved to Evergreene Ridge in Jefferson. Soon after her 95th birthday in 2013, Joyce moved to Mill Pond in Ankeny to be near family. She passed away there on Aug. 18, 2020, five days after her 102nd birthday. The family thanked the staff at Mill Pond for the wonderful care and devotion Joyce received while living there.
Joyce is survived by her son Stephen (Georgene) of Ankeny, daughter Karen Kinsman (Craig) Wyoming, OH, and son John (Joan) San Antonio, TX; grandchildren David Raver (Heather) and Lori Leach (Darin) of Ankeny, Scott Kinsman (Jenn) Murfreesboro, TN, Emily Colwell of Fairfield, OH, and Jill Patton (Wesley), Jan Morgan (John) and Jaimee Hiebert (Jeremy) all of San Antonio, TX; 16 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Memorial gifts to honor Joyce may be directed to Central Christian Church in Jefferson.
