Joyce Ann Plummer of Flower Mound, TX passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer. Joyce was born in Harlan, KY on June 8, 1937 to Dover William and Hazel Perkey Pursiful. While working in the payroll department at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH, she met and began dating Raymond Plummer. They were married on July 6, 1968 and she was his devoted wife for 44 years until his passing in 2013. Joyce worked at various jobs throughout her life but was perhaps most proud of her work as a librarian for St. Louis County. One of her favorite things about the job was leading the story hour program where she could read aloud to the library’s youngest patrons. But of all her vocations in life, being a mother was the thing she was best at and was her greatest passion. She was deeply committed to her two daughters and her steadfast support and ready affection will be greatly missed. Joyce was very involved in the lives of her family and friends and she blessed those in her life with her boundless generosity and fierce loyalty. She lived up to her name by spreading a sense of joy and fun to everyone she met. Her warm smile and hearty laugh were enjoyed by all who knew her. Throughout her life, Joyce had a passionate love of music. She was a skilled pianist and had a beautiful singing voice. One of the things she was most proud of and talked about often was being a Harlan Musette. She found ways to keep music in her life, from teaching piano and singing in her church choir to simply singing with her family in the car. She loved children and did frequent volunteer work at schools and vacation bible programs even after her own children were grown. Despite some very serious health challenges including diabetes, blindness, and finally cancer, Joyce maintained a positive attitude. She never complained or indulged in self-pity. Her fighting spirit was in inspiration to her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Raymond E. Plummer and her parents Dover and Hazel Pursiful, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and several sister-in-laws with whom she was exceptionally close. She is survived by her daughters Jennifer Plummer Everett and Margaret Plummer Martin, her son-in-law Joel Martin, and her granddaughter Ava Vyola Martin who has been the light of her life for the last four years. She is also survived by her aunts Carolyn Perkey Luttrell and Mabel Pursiful White and her brother and sister in law John Joseph Plummer and Ellen Plummer Slick. Additionally her memory will be cherished by her extended family across the country who will miss her deeply.
A service celebrating Joyce’s life will be held at the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 11:30 AM. Her family will then travel to Harlan, KY to lay her to rest. A memorial service will be Tuesday, April 21 at 11AM at Mount Pleasant Funeral Home. A private burial for family will be held at Resthaven Cemetery.
The family respectfully asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Joyce’s memory to the American Cancer Society.