Joyce Fox, 88 of New Sharon passed away Monday morning, June 3, 2019 at the Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Funeral service will begin at 1:30 pm Thursday, June 6, 2019 at the New Sharon United Methodist Church. Burial will be held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in New Sharon with the family present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the New Sharon United Methodist Church.

Joyce Ann Fox was born to Earl and Dorothy (Blake)Walker on June 1st, 1931 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She grew up in the Oskaloosa area and graduated from Oskaloosa High School. Before marriage, she worked as a nurse's aide at Mahaska County Hospital in Oskaloosa, IA and J C Penny's in the clothing department. On January 15th, 1950, she was united in marriage to Merwyn Fox, Jr, in Oskaloosa Iowa. To this union four children were born, Cindy, Cheryl, M.L. and Julie. They made their home on a small farm southwest of New Sharon where they lived all their life. She was a hard working farmer's wife who grew a large garden of produce every year - spending countless hours watering, weeding, harvesting and canning. She also enjoyed planting and growing multiple kinds of flowers. She was an excellent seamstress and made a lot of her children's clothes when they were young. Among her many talents, she also was an excellent cook. Joyce and her mother-in-law, Betty, ran a small restaurant at the local sale barn for several years.

Joyce was very involved and enjoyed spending time with her husband Jr. watching her 4 children and grandchildren compete in high school athletics and rarely missed a game. She also spent many years volunteering as a 4-H leader. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of New Sharon and a member of the United Methodist Women's club.

She is lovingly remembered by her three daughters, Cindy and her husband Kenyon Williams of Eufaula, OK; Cheryl and her husband Bud Bond of Broaddus, TX; Julie and her husband Bart Ewing of New Sharon, IA; and one son M.L. Fox of New Sharon; nine grandchildren, Stacy Williams Kelly, Brent Williams, Aaron William, Ryan Williams, Brad Bond, Michele Bond, B.J. Ewing, Brian Ewing and Brady Ewing; 14 great grandchildren and 5 siblings, Dorothy Van Dyk, Gary Walker, Karen Bowen, Stephen Walker, and Mary Sue Sigler.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Dorothy Walker; her step father, Charlie Moore; her husband, Merwyn Fox Jr; two brothers, Earl and David Walker; two sisters, Lugene DeJong and Marilyn Walker.

Joyce's family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa for the excellent care she received.