Joyce Irene (Ball) Thompson
March 14, 1939 – April 07, 2025.
Eighty-six years ago, on March 14, 1939 in Enid, Oklahoma, Russell Franklin Ball and Dorothy Evelyn (Streck) Ball welcomed their second child, daughter Joyce Irene. Joyce’s early grade school years were spent in Enid at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. In 1951, Champlin Oil transferred her father’s work to Fulton, Missouri where Joyce
joined the Fulton schools as a 7th grader. She was an active young lady and kept busy in church, Blue Birds, and Camp Fire Girls. In 1955 a handsome man who frequently visited her waitressing station became her sweetheart. Norman Myron Thompson and Joyce eloped to Hernando, Mississippi on November 11, 1955. After marriage, Norman and Joyce began a family in Fulton, Missouri. Steven Ray was born in 1956, Gary Lynn in 1959, Sheryl LeAnn in 1964. The Thompson family moved to the Lake of the Ozarks area in 1966. Their
4th child, Corey Douglas was welcomed into the family in 1969. As the family grew up, they moved to different parts of the Lake finding residences in Sunrise Beach, Osage Beach, and Linn Creek. While at the Lake, Joyce began working in food service at the Star Restaurant
(Camdenton) and Roam’s Dari Creem (Osage Beach & Camdenton). She then joined Tan-Tar-A as a switchboard operator and was employed there for 11 years. Lake Regional Hospital (Osage Beach) occupied Joyce’s life for the next 24 years as a Switchboard Operator,
a Certified Pharmacy Technician, and an Emergency Room Registration Clerk. Joyce loved keeping busy. During her Lake life she participated as a Girl Scout Leader and Bible School Teacher. She played the piano and organ for several Christian churches in
the area, served as a docent at the Camden County Museum, and volunteered at the Camden County Child Advocacy Thrift Shop. You could also find Joyce performing in local stage plays in the community. Crafting homemade items brought Joyce much happiness. She crocheted afghans, made ceramics, oil painted, wrote poetry, and loved to read. Norman and Joyce were married 46 years at his death
in 2001. 2017 proved eventful as Joyce moved to Hilo, Hawaii to live with her son, Corey. Island life suited her well, with pleasant weather, extraordinary plant life, ocean views, and wonderful new foods to try! She spent 4 years on the Big Island until the unexpected death of son Corey in 2021. Joyce returned to Lake of the Ozarks welcomed by many loving family members and friends. She claimed her passion and greatest accomplishment in life as her 4 wonderfulbchildren. She adored them all. Preceding her in death are her parents, brothers Wayne and Richard Ball, son Corey Thompson (2021), and grandson David Paul Thompson (2009).
Surviving family includes:
Sons:
Steven Thompson (Camdenton)
Gary (Ellen) Thompson (Osage Beach)
Daughter:
Sheryl (Rusty) Murdock (Camdenton)
Daughter-in-law:
Niki Dageenakis (CO)
Grandsons:
Shawn (Lindsay) Thompson (Camdenton)
Lucas Thompson (Camdenton)
Justin (Brittany) Murdock (Choctaw, OK)
Joshua (Whitney) Murdock (Chillicothe)
Oliver (Jordan) Thompson (Wentzville)
Granddaughters:
Riley (Tim) Tieber (St Peters)
Amanda (Phillip) Anderson (Chillicothe)
Granddaugher-in-law:
Lindsey (Matt) Dillon (Camdenton)
Great-grandchildren:
Meagan, Cooper, Kalie, Maddie, Reed, and Mathias
Joyce accepted Christ and was baptized at the Davis Park Christian Church in Enid, Oklahoma. Her Lord and Savior has guided her all through life. She has written in her own words that “she wishes to see all her friends and family and pets in heaven.”