Joyce Ann (Fullerton) McElroy, the daughter of William
and Ruby (Hancock) Fullerton, was born on January 4, 1942, in Montrose,
Kansas. She passed away on November 21, 2021, at the Bob Wilson
Memorial Hospital in Ulysses, Kansas, at the age of 79.
Joyce grew up in a very large family of 17 siblings and was a graduate
of Montrose High School, class of 1960. She then moved to San Rafael,
California, and married Roger McElroy.
After their first son Curtis Eugene was born, she didn’t think that
California was a place to raise children so they moved back to Randall,
Kansas, to be near family. One year later, Gregory Allen was born and
then they headed west to Menlo, Kansas, just in time for their oldest
son to start pre-school in Colby. Both boys attended a few years of
elementary school in Rexford, Kansas. Adding two girls to the family,
Gina Susanne and Kimi Lynn were born. In 1971, they moved to Johnson,
Kansas, where they raised their children. Joyce had the ability to find
ways to keep her children busy and learn how to make money. At a young
age, they delivered the Garden City and Dodge City newspaper, sold
seeds, had a fireworks stand and many other endeavors. As everyone left
home to pursue life, she enjoyed taking her oldest grandkids to
Colorado and Silver Dollar City when she was able.
Joyce was most known for her clothing store, RJ Western Wear that she
owned for many years. She enjoyed the craft of stamping names on
leather western belts and visiting with all of her customers. Throughout
her lifetime she was an EMT and Nurse’s Aide for Stanton County, a Girl
Scout leader, a supervisor for 17 years at Grant County Feeders, a
meter reader for Pioneer Electric, and a rural route postal carrier
until four years ago when she moved to Ulysses, Kansas, where she
resided until her final day.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ruby; brothers,
Roy, Donald, LaVern, and Dean; sisters, Bernice and Neva; and four
infant brothers and one infant sister.
Survivors include her children; Curtis McElroy of Tulsa, OK, Greg
McElroy of Randall, KS, Gina (Eric) Fox of Rockwall, TX, and Kimi
McElroy-Posey of Amarillo, TX; six grandchildren, Kellie (Richie)
Breaux, Cassie (Gavin) Cole, Shayden (Brandon) Cowen, Wyatt Posey, Max
Fox, Stella McElroy, Matthew Lisle and Cheyenne Lisle; nine
great-grandchildren, Hayden and Elsie Breaux, Abigail, Kylie, Karsen and
Brycen Cowen, Lillian Parker-Posey, and Emmett and Reese Cole; her
siblings, Phyllis Ohmstead of Emporia, KS, Norma Eitzmann of Superior,
NE, Yvonne Blair of Superior, NE, Claudine Fullerton of Superior, NE,
Dave Fullerton of Mankato, KS, and Brenda Moser of Hugoton, KS; and many
other family and friends.
Her final resting place will be next to her family at Pleasant View
Cemetery in Montrose, KS.
Memorial contributions may be given to Joyce McElroy Memorial Fund in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave., Ulysses, KS 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com. Read Less