Joyce Jean (Rosecrants) King

Joyce Jean Rosecrants King was born on January 24, 1930, in Cordell, Oklahoma, the third child of John Paul Rosecrants and May (Tharrington) Rosecrants Warner. She passed away on January 9, 2024, in Oklahoma City.

Joyce attended Lawton Public Schools, graduating high school in 1947. She earned an Associate’s degree in 1949 from Cameron State Agricultural College in Lawton and a Bachelor’s in Education in 1951 from Southwestern State Teachers College in Weatherford.

Joyce lived in Oklahoma until she joined the United States Navy. She proudly served her country from 1952-1955 in the Officer Training Command in Newport, Rhode Island and then as a Communication Officer at the U.S. Naval Station in Long Beach, California. Joyce was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.

Joyce moved to Montana in 1956, living there for 16 years and teaching high school English in various cities across the state. In 1970, she received her Master’s degree in Education from the University of Montana. Retiring from teaching in 1972, Joyce moved to Norman to be near her mother and stepdad.

In 1973, she married Claude King and in 1983 they moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona. Joyce and Claude spent 25 very happy years together. She returned to Norman following his death in 1998.

Joyce loved classical music and the color green. Her perfect day would be to have lunch with her friends or her family. She loved to travel and enjoyed new adventures and new places, playing dominoes, reading and the theatre. She enjoyed watching Masterpiece Theater, Championship dog shows, basketball and eating watermelon. She enjoyed watching the antics of her dog and cats and the family fish (because she did not like to fish!) Joyce loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them, especially her brother Gerald.

She was a member of the Golden Agers and the Women’s Club at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Montana Teachers Association, and the Oklahoma Women’s Veterans Association. For the past seven years she has lived at the Norman Veterans Center.

Joyce was Baptized on May 19, 1951, into the Roman Catholic Church and received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion on May 24, 1951. Her faith was always with her and sustained her during her life’s journey.

Joyce is survived by her two children, Teresa L. Harriet and husband Tim of Norman and Paul G. Sherman of Billings, Montana; her two granddaughters, Monica L. Hale and husband Daniel and Laura E. Wright; four great-grandchildren, Hannah, Molly and Jack Hale and Benjamin Wright; niece, Mary Beth Rosecrants and partner Jason; nephew, Jacob Rosecrants and partner Robin; great-nephews, Spencer and Jonah Rosecrants; cousins, Karla Nalley and husband Richard and Richard Riddle; sister-in-law, Vickie King and sons, along with many other family and friends.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Claude King; parents, John Paul and May Rosecrants; brother, Gerald Rosecrants; infant sister, June Rosecrants; great-granddaughter, Chloe E. Wright and nephew, David B. Rosecrants.

The family would like to thank the Norman Veterans Center staff, especially the nursing, activity therapy and transportation departments for their compassionate care of Joyce.

Donations in memory of Joyce Rosecrants King may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation for research in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

A rosary for Joyce will be held Thursday, February 1, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church Chapel, 421 E Acres St, Norman, OK 73071. A funeral mass will occur Friday, February 2, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 211 N Porter Ave, Norman, OK 73071.