Joyce Gail Brigham

Joyce Gail (Wormsley) Brigham, 76, a long-time Harrisonville resident, passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Meadow View Health and Rehabilitation Center in Harrisonville, Missouri. Memorial services were held on Friday, May 2, 2025 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO. Inurnment will be at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO, at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Harrisonville Animal Shelter.
Joyce was born on January 16, 1949, in Garnett, Kansas, the fifth of six children of Fred and Dorothy Maxine (Hale) Wormsley. She attended Rodman Elementary School in rural Peculiar, MO, and Harrisonville Elementary and High School, graduating in 1967. As a youngster, Joyce was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Harrisonville, where she remained a member.
Joyce and Charles Gary Brigham were married in 1968 and they had one son, Jason Brigham. Joyce and Gary later divorced. Joyce was employed by Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, MO; Western Electric in Lee's Summit, MO; and DuPont Technologies in Kansas City, KS. Due to medical issues, Joyce was forced to leave her employment in 1995.
Joyce was blessed with many talents and interests. In her earlier years, she enjoyed oil painting, needle point, knitting, making floral arrangements, raising flowers, and feeding the many birds and squirrels that visited her yard. She also enjoyed reading, especially Stephen King novels, and listening to a variety of music. Even though Joyce faces many challenges because of her medical disabilities and could no longer work, Joyce lived independently until 2021. During this time, she was fortunate to have the companionship of a Yorkie Terrier named Rocky and later a Silky Terrier named Benie.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her sister and brother-in-law, Sonna and George Daniel "Danny" Ousterhout; and brother-in-law, Fred Young. She is survived by her son, Jason Brigham, and his long-time companion, Lynn Gaines; sisters: Sandra (Wayne) Young, Sharon (Eugene) Bell, and Dorothy Young, all of Harrisonville, MO; brother, Richard (Chang Su) Wormsley of Warrensburg, MO; grandchildren: Jason Edmondson, Anthony Edmondson, Alex Edmondson, Ashley Edmondson, and Seth Baker; great-grandchildren: Amelia, Sterling, and Scarlett; along with numerous nieces and nephews.