Evelyn Joyce Johnson Eckhart was born August 31, 1927 in rural Norton County, Kansas, the daughter of John Herbert Johnson and Florence Edith (Nuttycomb) Johnson, on her sister Jean's second birthday.  Joyce attended grade school at Calvert, Kansas, and high school in Almena, Kansas, graduating with the class of 1945.  She passed away at Logan Manor in Logan, Kansas, on July 9, 2020, at the age of 92 years.

Following graduation, Joyce attended Airline Communication School in Omaha, Nebraska.  She was employed by Delta Airlines as a radio-teletype operator in Atlanta, GA, Charleston, S.C., and Columbia, S.C.  She also earned extra money by playing the saxophone in a dance band in her early years.

On February 8, 1948, Joyce was married to Lyle E. Eckhart in Almena, Kansas, where they lived for three years.  At that time, Lyle reentered the service, and upon his discharge in 1952, they purchased Troup Furniture Store and Funeral Home in Logan, where they made their home for over twenty years.  Joyce served as assistant funeral director and also helped in the furniture store in addition to her duties as homemaker.

Two daughters, Cynthia Jeanne and Mona Sue, were born to the couple.

In  1975, Joyce and Lyle moved to Topeka where Joyce was employed by Jostens Printing and Publishing Co., and Lyle served as state director of Emergency Medical Services.  While in Topeka, they made many friends and enjoyed tailgating with their special group at KU football games.

In 1988 she and Lyle returned to Logan to enjoy their retirement.  In addition to being a loyal KU fan, Joyce was a proud grandma, an avid fisherman and voracious reader.  She was proud of winning the award at Logan Library for reading the most books in a year. She was a member of the Logan United Methodist Church and the American Legion Auxiliary as well as a former member of the Order of the Eastern Star and BPW in Logan.

Joyce had been a resident of Logan Manor since 2016.  Her greatest joys were visits from her family and friends or telling people about her family.  She also showed interest in the lives and families of the staff who helped her.  She continued to love watching her Jayhawks on television when possible and grumbled when they weren't broadcast.  Joyce will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lyle in 1996, sister Jean Leuszler, son-in-law Larry L. Krouse, and two nephews.

Joyce is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Aubushon (Ron) of Conway Springs, KS and Sue Jackson (Bob) of Logan, four grandchildren, Dawn Cornejo (Mike) of Frisco, Texas, Joe Jackson (Rachel) of Wichita, KS, Sam Jackson of Plainville, KS, and Valerie Schulz (Scott) of Hill City, KS, and seven great grandchildren: Brittany Blaine (Luis Matute), Lyle Cornejo, Chloe, Mackenzie, and Elizabeth Jackson, Jackson and Raya Schulz, Holly Robinson, De'Marquez (Q) Cooper, and Maxamillion McCartney.  She was also blessed with two great-great grandchildren, Luis Tobias Matute and Willow Mingo, and six nieces and nephews and their families.

Cremation was planned.  A private memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 18 ^th in the United Methodist Church, Logan, with Pastor Ted Stapleton officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery, Logan.  Services will be streamed live on the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel FaceBook page.

The family wishes for family and friends to sign the online guestbook and leave condolences for Joyce at www.olliffboeve.com .

Memorial contributions may be made to the Logan Intergenerational Project (LCDF/LIFE), South Solomon Shrine Club or the Logan Library and may be sent in care of the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, P. O. Box 563, Phillipsburg, KS  67661.

Logan Funeral Home / Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.