Joyce Raver

Joyce Arlene Raver, daughter of John and Gladys Blair Averill, was born Aug. 13, 1918, in Greene County.

She attended Bristol No. 8 school in Greene County and graduated from Jefferson High School. 

Joyce received her degree in elementary education from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She taught school in Beaver for two years before getting married to Warren Raver on June 4, 1939, on her family’s farm.  

To this union were born two sons, Stephen and John, and a daughter, Karen.

Joyce worked at Sidney’s Jewelry Store and then joined the hot lunch staff for the Jefferson Community Schools, where she remained employed until she retired.

Joyce was a faithful member of Central Christian Church in Jefferson. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir and played the piano for Sunday school for 50 years. She and husband Warren were youth sponsors for several years. She was a circle leader, CWF president and a member of several functional committees during her lifetime.

Hobbies included sewing, quilting, reading and serving as a volunteer at the local food pantry. Her beautifully embroidered tea towels were donated to and sold at the hospital gift shop, and every child and grandchild is a proud owner of one of her exquisitely hand-crafted quilts.

After her husband, Warren, passed away in 2006, she moved to Ever Greene Ridge in Jefferson. Soon after her 95th birthday in 2013, Joyce moved to Mill Pond in Ankeny to be near family.

She passed away there on Aug. 18, five days after her 102nd birthday.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mill Pond for the wonderful care and devotion Joyce received while living there.

Services were held Aug. 24 at Central Christian Church in Jefferson, with words of comfort by the Rev. J. Alexander.

Music included “The Lord’s Prayer” (a recording by granddaughter Lori Leach) and congregational hymns “Because He Lives” and “Let There Be Peace On Earth,” with Georgene Raver, accompanist.

Casket bearers were Darin Leach, David Raver, Craig Kinsman and Scott Kinsman.

Interment was in the Jefferson Cemetery.

Joyce is survived by her son, Stephen (Georgene), of Ankeny; daughter Karen Kinsman (Craig), of Wyoming, Ohio; and son John (Joan), of San Antonio; seven grandchildren: David Raver (Heather) and  Lori Leach (Darin), of Ankeny; Scott Kinsman (Jenn), of  Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Emily Kinsman, of Fairfield, Ohio; and Jill Patton (Wesley), Jan Morgan (John) and Jaimee Hiebert (Jeremy), all of San Antonio; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews, and many friends.

Memorial gifts to honor Joyce may be directed to Central Christian Church in Jefferson.

Services were arranged by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home.