Obituary of Joyce Shirley Lyman

    Joyce Shirley Lyman was born in Osceola County, Iowa to Clarence and Rose (Bock) Newkirk on June 18, 1926. Upon graduation from Hartley High School in Hartley, Iowa, she completed the Normal Training Course and received her Teaching Certificate; she then taught in the country school system for two years.

    On June 25, 1946, Joyce was united in marriage to Duane Marvin Lyman at the Methodist Church in Melvin, Iowa. To this union, two children were born: Nancy and Larry. The family lived in Melvin until 1964 when Duane’s job took them to Estherville, Iowa. They relocated to Fairmont, Minnesota when he became manager of the Golden Sun Feed Store there. Along with caring for her family, Joyce found employment at the Jeffrey Hallmark Shop located in downtown Fairmont; a job she enjoyed for eight years. Eventually, they moved back to Estherville and lived there until Duane’s retirement in 1989. Wanting to be closer to family and old friends, they decided to settle down in familiar surroundings and moved back to the town of Melvin.

    Life in a small Iowa town definitely has its’ upside, as Joyce now had more time for the things she liked to do most: gardening, embroidery fancy work and crochet. Over the years, many beautiful hand-made items and afghans were shared among friends and family members. She enjoyed times spent with neighbors and relatives alike, and will be remembered for her work ethic, friendly personality, and her ability to make others laugh.

    Joyce was a member of the United Methodist Church, as well as the American Legion Auxiliary both in Melvin, and a past-member of the VFW Auxiliary in Estherville. She and Duane made Sibley Specialty Care in Sibley, Iowa their new home in 2014. Joyce spent many contented hours there watching all the different birds that came and went outside her window. When Duane passed away in July of 2015, Joyce remained living at the Care Center in Sibley until her passing on December 1, 2022, at the age of 96 years.

    Left to cherish her memory are her son, Larry (Evelyn) Lyman of Hull, Iowa; six grandchildren: Shawn (Jamie) Lyman, Tim Lyman, Jay (Leanne) Lyman, Jerry (Jean) Beckmann, Jodi (Chris) Philen, and Emily (Tim) Gilbertson; 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; her sister, Cleone Ellingson of Hartley, Iowa; many other relatives and friends.

    Preceding her in death were her husband, Duane Lyman; daughter, Nancy Beckmann; her parents, Clarence and Rose Newkirk; and brothers: Dean Newkirk and Lloyd Newkirk.