Mary Ellen Joyner

1942 - 2025

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 will forever be etched in our memory: the date our mom Mary Ellen Joyner passed peacefully at home at the age of 83. She wrote most of her obituary below; although it is well written and accurate, it cannot nearly encompass who she was, what she accomplished, and the impact of her legacy on all who knew and loved her. We miss her dearly.

You need to be up just before sunrise to see the beautiful colors and the clouds meandering, streaking, and rolling across the sky. Just listen and you will hear not one bird, but a chorus of birds. And if you are lucky, you will see a heron, an owl or other fowl swooping gracefully across the horizon. For years, actually decades, the morning sky thrilled my every day; may you be so fortunate. As a child I had awakened my parents to share the beauty I saw. Eventually, I met Sage. No words are adequate to convey my admiration, gratitude, and love for Sage. Our daughters and their families made me immensely happy and proud. I never stopped counting my blessings.

Mary Ellen Yankoff Joyner, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and cousin passed away surrounded by her loving family. Preceded in death by her husband H. Sajon Joyner, her parents Pete Elia and Elizabeth Reezoff Yankoff, her sister Patricia Grace Yankoff and cousin Thomas Wallgren. Survived by daughters Elizabeth Joyner Hanna (Paul), Arista Joyner Butler (Bryant), Tricia Joyner Seaberg (Doug), grandchildren Jeffrey Hanna, Matthew Hanna, Sajon Seaberg, Jasper Seaberg, and Mason Seaberg. Many cousins including Nick Vasil (Tracy), Pete Vasil (Pat), Ed Wallgren, Patsy Vasil Schell (Bill), Charlie Wallgren (Brandi). Nieces Christa Joyner Moody (Mark), Crystal Joyner Ostlund (Brian), and DeAnna Joyner Joseph (Bryan).

Born in the Macedonian community of Granite City, Illinois, a native of Desloge, Missouri, she graduated from Stephens College and Washington University (St. Louis) with a degree in English. Her entire professional life was spent teaching, her childhood dream. She was a member of Holy Trinity Macedonian-Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Madison, Illinois; St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, the Order of St. Ignatius, and the Sisterhood of the Antiochian Christian Women's Organization.

Most of her volunteer life was dedicated to the arts and the Wichita Art Museum, where she served as chairperson for the Friends of the Wichita Art Museum for multiple terms. She was active in the Wichita Junior League, Wit and Wisdom, Arts Partners of Wichita, Andover Public Library, Andover Arts Council, PEO, National Council of Teachers of English, and the National Education Association.

The funeral service will be held Monday, December 15th at 7:00 p.m. at St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, 7515 E. 13th St. N., Wichita, Kansas. Viewing will be at 6:00 p.m., an hour before the service. Interment will be Tuesday, December 16th at 10:00 a.m. at the Indianola Cemetery, Andover, Kansas. All are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The St. George Choir, St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, 7515 E. 13th St. N., Wichita, KS 67206.