Joyce Ann Wilson

Joyce Ann Wilson, age 86, of Prairie Village, Kansas, passed away on May 27, 2024. She was born May 19, 1938, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Leo & Mildred Milburn, who preceded her in death. Joyce grew up with twin Janice Allison, Las Cruces, New Mexico. and siblings Marilyn Morehead, Kansas City, Missouri, deceased, Edwin Milburn, Camdenton, Missouri, deceased, Claudia Downs, San Diego, California, deceased and Mildred Lee Leader, Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She was very close to them all and loved them very much.

Joyce married Marvin R. Wilson in June 1965, and was married for 58 wonderful years. They lived in Kansas City for a short while and then moved to Prairie Village, Kansas, in 1965, where they lived for 58 years. Joyce and Marvin have three wonderful children: a daughter, Laurie Jamae Wilson, born in 1970, who is married to Geste Harms, Oakland, Florida, and sons Blake Richard Wilson, born in 1971, who is married to Virginia Homer, Olathe, Kansas, and Neil Martin Wilson, born in 1974, who is married to Jennifer Edgar, Olathe, Kansas. Joyce and Marvin are blessed with 13 grandchildren and love them all very much.

Joyce earned a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Art from the Kansas City Art Institute in May, 1960. She went to work for Hallmark Cards in their Ambassador Line in their Revamp Department, and later worked at the Federal Aviation Administration as their Commercial Artist. She retired from work in May, 1970. She continued her career as a freelance artist creating watercolor paintings, designing logos, cards, flyers, and advertising brochures for various companies and creating banners for her church. She loved working on the computer using Adobe Illustrator to create websites and layouts.

She grew up in the Baptist Church as a devout Christian, where she directed a youth choir, and sang in the choir for several years. Later, she became a member, along with her husband and family, of the First Church of the Nazarene in Kansas City, MO. She lived her life knowing Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. Her favorite scripture was Proverbs 3: 5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Memorial contributions may be made in Joyce's honor to the American Cancer Society; POB 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

The family requests for guests attending services to wear their favorite colorful outfit to honor Joyce.