Joyce M. Oard

PEORIA - Joyce M Oard, 81, of Peoria, passed away Tuesday, July 19, 2016, as a result of injuries suffered in a car accident. She was born July 18, 1935, in Peoria, the daughter of Granville and Myrtle Pettegrew Hedges. She married Presley "Darrell" Oard in Peoria on June 24, 1961.Joyce is survived by her husband of 55 years; one son, Todd (Cindy) Oard of Lisle, IL; one daughter, Kelly (Christian) Grandy of Naperville, IL; three grandchildren, Jake Oard, Sarah Oard, and Connor Grandy; and one brother, Harold (Liz) Hedges of Kentucky.She is preceded in death by her parents.Joyce was born and raised in Peoria. She was a 1953 graduate of Woodruff High School where she met her husband, Darrell. At the age of 17, Joyce started her 40-year career at Caterpillar. She worked several years in Photocopy as a Layout Artist; eventually retiring from her position in the Image Lab in 1998. Joyce was an active life long member of Peoria Heights Congregational Church and a former member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a philanthropic sorority dedicated to St. Jude charities. In her retirement, Joyce filled her social calendar with dominoes, bunko, and mahjong clubs. She loved constructing jigsaw puzzles. She was a member of the Chicago Cubs Booster Club of Central Illinois and a former Red Hats member. Joyce had spunk and enthusiasm for life which was evident to all who knew her. Cremation rites will be accorded.. Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 24, 2016, at Peoria Heights Congregational Church. A celebration of life will be held immediately following the memorial service at Barrack's Cater Inn from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Burial will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens at a later date.Memorials may be given to Peoria Heights Congregational Church.To view Joyce's memorial page or to leave online condolences, please go to www.woolsey-wilton.com.