Mrs. Joyce Lee Surface

1935 - 2024

Funeral services for Joyce Lee Surface, 88, West Plains, Mo., will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024, at China Union Church, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mrs. Surface passed away at 11 p.m. Saturday, May 4, 2024, at her home.

She was born Oct. 20, 1935 in Howell County, Mo., near West Plains. Joyce received her education in and near West Plains graduating from West Plains High School in 1953. On January 11, 1955 she was married to Lawrence Surface at China Union Church and was married for 67 years before his passing.

Joyce was saved at China Union Church under Kenneth Chapman's preaching at the age of 11.

She spent 32 years in banking working in a variety of positions and retired under Boatman's Bank in 1997.

She was well known for her love of cooking for other people and always hosted Sunday dinners bringing her family together with home-cooked meals and cookies in her cookie jar. She had a love for music, playing piano and organ, singing and teaching music. She played for many funerals, weddings and churches. Her love for life also included sewing, traveling, camping and cooking meals for missionaries, preachers, family and friends. She taught Sunday School classes for juniors and teenagers for many years in church and at Hammond Mill Bible Camp. Joyce also taught piano to several students including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and harmonica to her grandson.

After her retirement she made each member of her family a hand-sewn quilt and sewed many things for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Camping with her husband, friends, and family was a delight to her and she loved to do the cooking. Joyce enjoyed family gatherings at holidays and family reunions. Early morning Bible readings and church brought her much joy and her son and his family around her table was her favorite. She enjoyed writing poetry and songs, and passing her wisdom and love to her family and friends.

After retirement, she enjoyed traveling the United States and Canada, spending quiet peaceful times with her husband on their farm and being a grandma and a great-granny. She got her strength from God who she communed with daily.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband Lawrence Surface, a son Calvin Lynn Surface, her parents Alfred and Letha Eades, her brother Roland Eades, her maternal grandparents James and Eliza Crow, and her paternal grandparents Tom and Nancy Eades.

She is survived by a sister Peggy Coopman and husband Dave; son Stacey Surface; daughter-in-law Kaye Surface; five grandchildren Jessica Schmitt and husband Isaac, Logan Surface and wife Summer, Karissa Surface, Cordell Surface and wife Alicia, and Landen Surface; and four great-grandchildren Miles, Lisa, Aysia and Ronin.

Visitation services will be held from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Evergreen Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main St., West Plains, MO 65775. Online condolences may be left at www.robertsondrago.com.