Alvina “Deane” Greiner Harris passed away Saturday evening, May 19, 2018.
Deane was born in Barton County, Missouri on July 21, 1929, the daughter of Opal E. and Joseph P. H. Greiner. She was raised by her mother and grandmother, Daisy Washburn, along with her siblings (Norma, “Bud” and Kathryn) and extended family in a bustling, multi-generational home. Deane attended country school as a child and graduated from Lamar High School in 1947. During HS, she was a cheerleader and active in the Speech and Home Economics departments. Her huge extended family was then, and forever remained extremely important to her; many in the Lamar, Monett, and Nevada areas named Washburn, Heim, Suschnick, Dermott, Crabtree, Stahl, Johnston, Sloniker, Smith, and Gardner are beloved relatives.
Soon after graduation, Deane married Floyd A. Joyce, and to this union four children were born: Mike, Jim, Damon and Beth. Early in their marriage, they lived in Springfield, El Dorado Springs and Kansas City and were active in church and family activities. In 1967 they moved back to Lamar where Deane was known as a stylish, talented, creative woman. She carried on her family’s cooking traditions; we will miss her curry, turkey and dressing, peanut brittle, English toffee, cheesecake and crescent rolls! She worked as Activities Director for Chastain’s Nursing Home, in-house interior designer for Community Lumber Company and bookkeeper at the Lamar Clinic. Throughout her life, she was also the personal seamstress for innumerable area households, creating hand-tailored suits and shirts, dresses, pageant gowns, uniforms, costumes, custom drapes…. We, her family, were beautifully and lovingly dressed by her hands. Deane was active at First Baptist and Cornerstone Baptist churches as well as several women’s clubs. Her green thumb and love of cats lives on through the rest of us, too.
Later in life, Deane married Leonard Gariss and then Jack Harris, both of whom preceded her in death. She dearly loved the Gariss and Harris families and acted as a loving aunt or grandmother-figure to their younger ones. Before Jack’s death, he and Deane moved to Webb City where they established a close group of friends and were active in the First Baptist Church there. Deane spent the last few years of her life in Springfield MO, in order to be near her daughter.
Deane is survived by her children – Mike Joyce (Shirley Beer) of Pittsburg, KS; Jim Joyce of Greensboro, NC; Damon Joyce of Springdale, AR; and Beth Joyce Young (Greg) of Springfield, MO. She leaves behind her precious grand- and great-grandchildren – Ryan Joyce (Adallee) and their daughter Lana Deane of Edmond, OK; Bryant Young (Olivia) of Springfield; Megan Joyce Owen (Jeremy) and their sons, Davis & Fletcher, of Springdale; Drew Young of Columbia, MO; and Quinn Joyce (Emily Parker) of Springdale. Brother-in-law, Don Smith, also survives, as well as many relatives and friends.
Visitation is scheduled from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22nd at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar. A graveside committal service will be held at Lake Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, 11300 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton MO 63044.
Soon after graduation, Deane married Floyd A. Joyce, and to this union four children were born: Mike, Jim, Damon and Beth. Early in their marriage, they lived in Springfield, El Dorado Springs and Kansas City and were active in church and family activities. In 1967 they moved back to Lamar where Deane was known as a stylish, talented, creative woman. She carried on her family’s cooking traditions; we will miss her curry, turkey and dressing, peanut brittle, English toffee, cheesecake and crescent rolls! She worked as Activities Director for Chastain’s Nursing Home, in-house interior designer for Community Lumber Company and bookkeeper at the Lamar Clinic. Throughout her life, she was also the personal seamstress for innumerable area households, creating hand-tailored suits and shirts, dresses, pageant gowns, uniforms, costumes, custom drapes…. We, her family, were beautifully and lovingly dressed by her hands. Deane was active at First Baptist and Cornerstone Baptist churches as well as several women’s clubs. Her green thumb and love of cats lives on through the rest of us, too.
Later in life, Deane married Leonard Gariss and then Jack Harris, both of whom preceded her in death. She dearly loved the Gariss and Harris families and acted as a loving aunt or grandmother-figure to their younger ones. Before Jack’s death, he and Deane moved to Webb City where they established a close group of friends and were active in the First Baptist Church there. Deane spent the last few years of her life in Springfield MO, in order to be near her daughter.
Deane is survived by her children – Mike Joyce (Shirley Beer) of Pittsburg, KS; Jim Joyce of Greensboro, NC; Damon Joyce of Springdale, AR; and Beth Joyce Young (Greg) of Springfield, MO. She leaves behind her precious grand- and great-grandchildren – Ryan Joyce (Adallee) and their daughter Lana Deane of Edmond, OK; Bryant Young (Olivia) of Springfield; Megan Joyce Owen (Jeremy) and their sons, Davis & Fletcher, of Springdale; Drew Young of Columbia, MO; and Quinn Joyce (Emily Parker) of Springdale. Brother-in-law, Don Smith, also survives, as well as many relatives and friends.
Visitation is scheduled from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22nd at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar. A graveside committal service will be held at Lake Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, 11300 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton MO 63044.
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