Joyce Jones

It is with love and sorrow that we announce that on April 12th of 2024, Joyce Catherine Lewis Jones passed from this temporal life into her eternal heavenly home. Joyce had lived in Springdale and Fayetteville, Ark., for 60 years and was a member of First United Methodist Church of Springdale. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hal Lewis Sr., and Lois Kendrick Lewis; her siblings, Dorothy McGilvary, Brunelle Walley, Hal Lewis, Jr., Charles "Buster" Lewis, James Lewis; her husband, Glover Wade Jones, Sr.; her daughter, Ginger Jones Zurliene; and her son-in-law, Timothy James Zurliene. Joyce is survived by her sister, Helen "Bunny" McCaffery of Richton, Miss.; her daughter, Georgia (Bruce) Jones Dodson, Hot Springs, Ark.; her son, Wade Jones, Jr., Cambodia; her grandchildren, Andrew (Helen) B. Dodson, Monroe, La., Aaron B Dodson, Hot Springs, Ark., Lindsy (Zachary) Jones Cox, Hot Springs, Ark., Acacia (Nicholas) Jones Reynolds, Tontitown, Ark., Anna Claire Zurliene, Asheville N.C., and Matthew James Zurliene, Chapel Hill, N.C., great-grandchildren, Jackson Graham Murray and Andrew Walker Dodson of Monroe, La., Caroline James Cox and Kendall Grace Cox of Hot Springs, Ark., and Parker Jane Reynolds and Riley Kate Reynolds of Tontitown, Ark. Joyce Catherine Lewis Jones was born on July 23rd of 1934 in Cairo, Ga. She grew up in Petal, Miss., and graduated from Hattiesburg High School. She obtained her bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. In 1956, Joyce married Glover Wade Jones in Petal, Miss. They lived in Hattiesburg, where they had their first child, before moving to Forest, Miss., for a few years. Joyce and Wade, along with their three young children, moved to Springdale in 1965 and quickly became an integral part of the community in northwest Arkansas. Starting a business, raising a family, making friends, enjoying time on Beaver Lake, participating in church activities, becoming loyal Razorback fans and giving back to the community were important parts of Joyce's life. Joyce taught English in Mississippi for a few years before the family moved to Springdale. But her career as a travel agent became her most fulfilling endeavor. Joyce traveled the world over a period of 20-30 years, always bringing home tales and artifacts of her travels. She never met a stranger in her life, and along the way, she met many very interesting people that were included in her travel adventure stories. Joyce loved and enjoyed her friends, and she had many. Whether sharing a meal, dancing at the Elks Lodge, attending her book club, playing golf or bridge, Joyce wanted to do that with her many wonderful friends. She was a part of the "Wednesday Bridge Club that meets on Thursday" for over 55 years, and while she loved to play bridge, it was always about spending time with her dear friends. Her "Seekers" Sunday School Class provided another opportunity for deep and abiding friendships, as well as a place to pursue her love for learning and discovering more about her walk with Christ. Joyce also enjoyed gardening, reading, and writing. While traveling, Joyce kept a journal describing her adventures, the people she was with, and those she met. Her travel journals are a treasure to read. Joyce volunteered at the Bread of Life Ministry at her church, and the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. She was often lending an unseen helping hand to others as she shared Christ's love to the world. Joyce was an inspiring person to know. She loved life and did her best to live it to the fullest. Always active, always planning her next opportunity for an adventure and to be with others. She was a positive influence on so many of us with her beautiful smile and encouraging words. She would often say, "A smile is the easiest thing to put on every morning." Finally, Joyce loved her family well. She loved and encouraged her six grandchildren and was a proud and loving great-grandmother. She was dearly loved by us all! The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at House of Three in Hot Springs as well as Paula and Liz, the two loving women who made Joyce's last several months peaceful and comfortable. May God bless you all. Funeral services will be held in the chapel of First United Methodist Church, Springdale, Ark., on Friday April 19, at 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to: Bread of Life in care of First United Methodist Church, 206 W Johnson Ave., Springdale, Ark. 72765, or Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, 4703 Crossover Rd., Fayetteville, Ark. 72762. The online obituary, guestbook, and memorial tribute are available at www.GrossFuneralHome.com.