Joycelyn J. Byers

Joycelyn Jeneane Byers, one of four children of Birdeen Angeline (Higel) and Wallace Gilbert Garland, was born on September 21, 1938 in Geneva, Nebraska. Her childhood years were spent in Nebraska and in 1951, her family moved to Treynor, Iowa. Joy attended Treynor School and was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Treynor. The family later moved to Randolph, Iowa where Joy attended her junior year of high school. A year later, they moved to Carson, Iowa where Joy graduated from high school in 1955 and the Barnes Beauty College in Council Bluffs in 1956. She then operated a beauty shop in Carson for three years.

Joy and Robert Cleveland Byers were married on June 8, 1958 at St. Paul Lutheran Church. They made their home on a farm west of Carson and in January 1959, Bob was inducted into the U. S. Army and stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, where he remained until his discharge in October 1960. Joy joined Bob in Wshington in April of 1959. In March 1961, the couple returned to Iowa and made their home on a farm east of Emerson. A year later, they moved to a farm on the north edge of Henderson, Iowa and Joy opened a beauty shop in their home. Joy and Bob's marriage was blessed with two children, Bambi Lynn and Justin Garland.

Joy enjoyed being a mother and homemaker and operating her beauty shop for 45 years. She also liked to operate the tractor and combine and enjoyed "going to the field" with Bob. Joy was active in the Nishna Valley Women's Club, Henderson Little League, Inc., 4-H, and the Henderson Christian Church, where she taught Sunday School for 10 years. She also worked from 1987 through 2007, as a supervisor in the catalog department of the J.C. Penney Store at the Mall of the Bluffs.

On June 8, 2008, Joy and Bob celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their family and many friends.

Joy passed away at her home in Henderson on May 14, 2009 at the age of 70 years, 7 months, and 23 days. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Joy is survived by her husband, Bob Byers of Henderson; daughter, Bambi Byers and Joe Collard of Greer, South Carolina; son, Justin Byers and grandchildren, Deven Byers and Kayla Byers, all of Creston, IA; sisters, Yvonne Lamoree of Mesa, AZ and Glenda Miller and husband Karl of Mesa; brother, Dale Garland and wife Mary Lou of Tucson, AZ; sisters-in-law, Connie Bolton and husband Irvin of Red Oak, IA, Bernadine Shiffer and husband Roger of Sidney, IA, Cheradel McKee of Huntington Beach, CA, Gwen Eggers and husband Greg of Carson; brother-in-law, James Byers and wife Kay of Griswold, IA; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.