Joyce Evelyn Keith passed away February 4, 2023, at the age of 91. She
was born March 13, 1931, in Greensburg, KS to Olie James Hubert and Ione
Phillips Hubert. Joyce married Billie D. Chadd, August 8, 1951. Bill
died June 8, 1997. Joyce married James R. Keith December 18, 1999. Jim
died February 27, 2022.
Joyce graduated from Greensburg High School
in 1949. After attending beauty college, she began her entrepreneurial
career as a beautician. She went on to open a women’s clothing store in
Greensburg and another in Pratt. Joyce assisted with the Miss Kansas
pageant for many years by providing clothing, advice and support to the
contestants and pageant planners.
The highlight of this era was
attending the Miss America pageant in Atlantic City. Joyce also served
as President of the Pratt Area Chamber of Commerce and was a member of
Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Following her career in retail, Joyce
became office manager at Pratt Livestock until retiring in the late
1990s. Joyce married JIm in 1999 and they spent many happy years at the
farm near Greensburg where she grew up. In 2005 when Greensburg was
destroyed by a tornado, Joyce and Jim immediately volunteered to help.
Joyce was a maverick with an infectious smile and affable personality
who always made others feel loved.
Joyce is survived by a brother,
Gene Hubert of McPherson, KS, three sons, Steve (Janet) Chadd, Wichita,
Troy (Stephanie) Chadd, Goddard, and Tracy (Darcy) Chadd, Council Grove;
grandchildren and great grandchildren, Brandon (Kortney) Chadd, and
children Zac & Maleia, Wichita, Brooke Chadd, and children Xander
& Tymber, Wichita, Jessica (Justin) Lies, and children Josephine,
Jayna, Jaxon and Judson, Colwich, KS, Dr. Julia Emberson, Wichita, Laura
(Logan) Hayes, and children Emmylou & Reverie, Wichita, Garrett
Chadd, Wichita, Courtney (Joshua) Gfeller and children, Hadley &
Jack, Junction City, KS, Morgan Chadd (Ethan) and children, Brynn &
Jensen, Council Grove, Tanner (Morgan) Chadd, Gladstone, MO.
Joyce is preceded in death by her husbands Bill and Jim, and sister, Gladys Williams.
A rosary service will be held at 10:00 a.m., with Mass of Christian
Burial following at 11:00 a.m. both on Monday, February 13, 2023, at
Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Pratt with Father Charles Atuah presiding.
Private Family Inurnment will be on a later date at Fairview Cemetery,
Greensburg.
Memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Church, Pratt. in care of Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, KS.