Joyce Earllene Whipple, 78, passed away on September 23, 2020 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas.  She was born on March 9, 1942 in Springcreek TWP Coffey County, Kansas the daughter of Earl and Idell (O'Dell) Harvey.

Joyce graduated from Le Roy Rural High School in 1960 and Emporia State University in 1964. She taught elementary school in Kansas City for 3 years, Dighton Grade School, and Ransom Grade School for 21 years. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Le Roy followed by the United Methodist Church of Ransom, and finally the United Methodist Church of Ness City.  She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma. She married Ray Whipple on June 18, 1967, in Le Roy, Kansas. He survives.

Other survivors include 2 sons, Steven Whipple of Courtland, VA Shane and wife, Becky Whipple of Woodland Park, CO; Alainya Kemper of Virginia Beach, VA; brother, Gail Harvey of Le Roy, KS; 5 grandchildren, Cassandra Martinez, Allison Mills, Aaron, Daniel, and Seth Whipple. She is also survived by many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Charles Eugene Harvey, and a grandson, Tyler Mills.

Private Family Funeral service will be on Monday, September 28, 2020, 10:00 a.m., at the Beeler Cemetery, Beeler, Kansas.  Burial in the Beeler Cemetery.  Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City, Kansas, from 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Sunday, September 27, 2020 with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the United Methodist Church Education Fund in care of Fitzgerald Funeral Home
P.O. Box 96 Ness City, KS 67560.

Words of sympathy and support may be left for the family by writing in the guestbook.