HOUSTON, OH – Joyce Elaine Harrison, 79, formally of New Madison, Ohio went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center. She was born July 26, 1941 in New Madison, Ohio to the late Orville A. and Vera M. (Eyer) Hoff. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse R. Harrison on January 6, 1984 and her sister Marilyn R. (Hoff) Eley.
Joyce worked as a mail carrier in New Madison, a bus driver for Anthony Wayne and Tri-Village LSD, a teller at Farmers State Bank and retired as an Administrative Assistant for Miami County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Riverside). Joyce’s talents and gifts abounded, and her passion was music. Joyce began young, singing with her sisters at church. In addition to singing, Joyce played the piano, flute, mountain dulcimer, hammered dulcimer and upright bass.
For the past twenty-four years, Joyce and Shari Wolf found a wonderful friendship, shared a house, performed as a music duo, and had great debates. Joyce and her sisters performed as MARJOLYN and BJ (Mary, Joyce, Marilyn, and Barbara) and Joyce also branched out into other groups with her beloved Hammered Dulcimer and in later years, the upright bass. She took these to Country Strings (Dot & Steve, Don, Barbara, Mary, and Shari); northern Miami Valley Group, Nine Mile Creek, and within the last several years, Buckeye Junction (Joe & Chris Steiner, Shari and Joyce) playing a touch of Bluegrass. For fifteen years, the 2nd weekend in October found her at the Old Time Gospel Music Retreat at the Golden Eagle Christian Center in Palestine, Ohio, teaching and playing the old time Gospels culminating in a community Gospel Sing on Saturday night. Finally, much of her life was dedicated to the Buckeye Dulcimer festival and for the last 10 years, Joyce and Shari were co-directors and enjoyed working
with David from Recreation Unlimited.
Joyce is survived by her daughter, Krisandra J. Harris and husband Keith of New Madison, and son Kevin R. Harrison and wife Marilyn of Greenville. Granddaughters Hilary (Harris) and husband Tyler Fourman, Jessalin (Harrison) and Husband Ross Wieser, Kristen Harrison all of Greenville, Hannah (Harris) and husband Nicolas Howell, and grandson Craig Harrison and wife Kelsey both of Arcanum, sisters Barbara J Moore of Eldorado, Martha I and husband Dewane G. Burns of Grand Haven MI, and Mary Pipenger of Piqua OH, Sister-in-law Ila Louise and husband Donald T. Drew of New Paris, Great-Grandchildren, Ezra, Elijah, Lilyanne and Jude Wieser, Charlotte, Logan and Aria Howell, and Tessla and Henslie Fourman along with numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and many, many friends.
A private service will be held at Zechar Bailey Funeral Home in Greenville. Graveside service and burial will follow in Greenmound Cemetery with Pastor Terry Campbell officiating and will be Live Streamed on Facebook with the link accessed at www.zecharbailey.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Buckeye Dulcimer Festival PO Box 323, Houston, Ohio. 45333 and or Recreation UnlimitedC/O David Hudler 7700 Piper Road, Ashley, OH 43003.
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