Joyce Ann Frye, 87, of Lawrence, KS, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2023. She was born June 21, 1935, to Ernest and Thema Stephenson. Though Joyce was not one to blow her horn, through her story-telling her friends and family came to learn about her many fascinating life experiences, zest for life and strong work ethic. For example, she lived above her dad’s restaurant off Main Street in downtown Kansas City, so she’d wake up, come down the back stairs, order her breakfast from the cook and head off to school. And the time spent on her grandmother’s farm formed her into the person she became. Grandma taught how to work hard and be self-sufficient.
Joyce was known for her joyful nature, fierce determination, and faithful living. She was a gifted crafter, able to make most anything without a pattern; she could just “see it” and make it; She loved coming up with new crafts to make. Her love of numbers led her to working in the banking business. She worked for Capital Federal Savings in Topeka Kansas for many years and retired from there in 2000.
Joyce deeply loved her family and did whatever she could to support her children and their families. Her children never looked up from a ball field or court and without seeing her there, usually at the scorer’s table. Joyce is survived by her daughter Gina Hoffman (Dennis) and her step-grandchildren Chad Hoffman (Melissa) and Jessica (Anthony) Brixius; step-great grandchildren Braden, Colin, Jasmine, Samantha, her son Mitch Williams (Jenny) and their children, Joanna (Kim), Leslie (Colin), MacKenna, and Nicolas, and great grandchildren Jacob, Charles, Audrey, and Jack, her step-children Robert Frye, Susie Stier, Richard Frye, and step-grandchildren Bobby, Amy, Marisa, Rachel, Bradley, and step-great grandchildren Aislyn, Preeley, Waverly and Liam. She is preceded in death by her brother Bill Stephenson, husband Robert (Bob) Frye, and son Michael Williams.
Funeral services will be 10:00 am, Friday, March 17, 2023, at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 9 – 10 am. In lieu of giving flowers, the family asks that those who are able make a donation to the Heifer International (https://www.heifer.org/), Interim Healthcare Topeka Hospice Program, or Youth Sports City of Lawrence Kansas.
