Joyce Lorane Purdue

JOYCE LORANE LANCASTER PURDUE, age 97, a long time resident of Jefferson City, TN passed away in her sleep on Friday, August 10, 2018. Vernon and Ipha Lancaster of Tyler, Texas became parents of Joyce on February 21, 1921. Joyce was an alumni of Southern Illinois University. William Joseph Purdue made one of his wisest decisions when he asked Joyce to be his wife in 1941. Along with their third marriage partner, God, they enjoyed a 68 year marriage. Their love produced three amazing and wildly different children, Darrell Joseph Purdue, Joyce Ann Purdue Bice and William Ray “Billy Ray” Purdue. While once winning the game show, Queen for a Day, Joyce was the queen of Bill’s heart for 68 years. Beyond the unpaid and often thankless career of being a pastor’s wife, Joyce was a valued teacher in her own right. She taught others how to be a pastor’s wife through Carson Newman College’s Bible College for lay ministers, as well as substitute teaching for all subjects at Missouri School for the Blind, where her youngest was a student. Joyce was meticulous, dedicated, supportive and creative. Joyce joins her brother, Darrell Glenn Lancaster; her husband, Bill; her sons, Darrell and Billy Ray. Joyce leaves behind three generations. To daughter Ann Bice and daughter-in-law Lynn Purdue, she was known as Mom. She was known by the name of Grandmother to Darrell Glenn Purdue, and Christy Purdue Clement, Jessica Cates Bolen; and as Memaw to Joy Bice, Charles Robert “Rob” Bice, III, and James William “Jimmy” Bice; and her great-grandchildren, Avigayle Thompson, Sean Purdue, Emma Grace Bice, Evan Clement, Zac Purdue, Elaina Clement, Bella Blue Bolen, Maggie Hope Bice, James William “Willie” Bice, Jr. and Charles Robert “CR” Bice, IV. Additionally, in her senior years, she was gifted with the love of a friend and adopted family member, Desrae Smallwood. Her remaining family will forever strive, and likely fail, to recreate her turkey dressing recipe. Joyce’s life will be celebrated on Monday, August 27, 2018 with the service at 7:00 p.m. at Farrar Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Rosser officiating, and music provided by Dr. Gene Wilder. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. prior to the service. Family and friends will gather at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning at Jefferson Memorial Gardens for a 10:00 a.m. graveside interment service. Special thanks to the staff of Jefferson Park Nursing Home, and especially Hall One, for their love and care in the last years of Joyce’s life, and also to Morristown Amedisys Hospice for their care. The last stanza from ‘To My Joyce’ says “Alas! Our love is imperfect because we are imperfect. One day the imperfection will be cast off and then, by God’s grace, you will love me even more. I will love you even more forever” Your Bill, December 1999. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the William J. and Joyce L. Purdue Endowment Fund, Carson Newman Advancement, PO Box 557, Jefferson City, TN 37760. ARRANGEMENTS BY FARRAR FUNERAL HOME IN JEFFERSON CITY, TN 865-475-3892 www.farrarfuneralhome.com