Joyce Virginia Kephart, 82, of Burlington, died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, at Trinity Hospital in Rock Island, Ill.
Born July 5, 1941, in Burlington, she was the daughter of Albert and Beulah Huffman Sly.
Joyce was a graduate of Burlington High School class of 1959 and a graduate of Burlington College in 1961.
On April 21, 1962, she married William “Bill” Kephart. He died Sept. 7, 2011.
Joyce ran a daycare from the 1960s to the 1990s. She was the owner of Joyce’s Cakes. She was a cake decorator at Walmart.
She loved going on cruises with her sister. Children always brightened her day. She enjoyed Burlington Civic Music and Players Workshop. She was a member of Open Bible Church and was president of D.O.V.E (women’s group at the church).
Survivors include two sons William (Sunny) Kephart II of Houston, Texas and Barry (Kellye) Kephart of Carmine, Texas; one daughter Kathi (Brian) Michelson of West Burlington; 11 grandchildren Sierra (Tyler) Huggins, Savannah (Mitch) Banes, Cheyanna Jones, William Kephart III, Tiffany Kephart, Anastasia Kephart, Samantha Kephart, Jacob Kephart, Kinsey Michelson, Brock (Shan) Michelson, Bailye Salas; seven great-grandchildren Olivia, Natalie and Cameron Huggins, Leon and Ming Michelson, Leven Kephart and Myla Smith.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, daughter Kimberly and beloved brother Dicky.
The funeral service for Ms. Kephart will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 9 at Lunning Chapel. Visitation will be 4 to 6 Saturday, October 7 at Lunning Chapel. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for Burlington Fire Department Ambulance Advancements.