Elva Joyce Shelby

Elva Joyce Shelby, 90, of Fayetteville, passed from this life April 6, 2017 in Fayetteville. She was born January 4, 1927, in Panama, Okla., to the late Willie and Edna Reeves Goff. Joyce studied at St. Edward Hospital School of Nursing, becoming a Registered Nurse, and later became Director of Education for the nursing program at St. Edwards. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, doting grandmother and known for having the greenest of thumbs. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bob Shelby and her son, David Shelby. She is survived by her grandson, Chris Shelby of Springdale; her granddaughter, Sarah Markley of Springdale; her daughter-in-law, Shirley Shelby, as well as three great grandchildren, Braeden, Jackson and Adeline Shelby. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 12, 2017 in Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at U.S. National Cemetery in Fort Smith. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral home. At the family's request, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Oklahoma and Arkansas Chapter, Incorporated, Western Arkansas Regional Center, 2408 South 51st Court, Suite F, Fort Smith, Ark. 72903 or Willard Walker Hospice Home, Washington Regional Foundation, P.O. Box 356, 72702. To sign an online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.