Joyce Ann Schlemper

Joyce Ann (Morris) Schlemper modeled her faith and commitment to God through kindness and giving generously to others. Above all, she embraced the charge to “love one another” (John 13:34-35). Often putting others’ needs before her own, Joyce’s selfless acts of love were woven into the fabric of her life. On March 10, 2026 God took her home to celebrate her life with Him after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Joyce was born on February 12, 1941, to Lewis Ray Morris and Zeta Marie (Dunagan) Morris. As a child, she lived in Gray Summit, Missouri with her three brothers and six sisters. She attended school in Washington, Missouri, where she participated in choir, glee and pep clubs. Joyce was also a member of the choir at the Baptist church in Gray Summit. She loved singing and listening to gospel music. As salutatorian of her 8th grade class, Joyce was bright and had a great sense of humor. She graduated from Washington High School in 1959. During high school, she worked part-time at the Gardenway Motel on Route 66 in Gray Summit. She recounted a story of using some of her wages to buy a new dress, but her father made her return it for a refund. Frugality and necessity were common at the time, and this continued into her marriage as well.

Joyce’s future husband was a year ahead of her in high school and she told stories about him doing her math and science homework on the school bus. She married Elmer Otto Schlemper at Brush Creek Baptist Church in Gray Summit on September 5, 1959. During much of their early years of marriage, she supported Elmer as he attended college and she cared for their four young children. They moved to Columbia, Missouri in 1966 when Elmer began a position as Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Missouri. When their children reached school age, Joyce opened a small daycare in their home until she became a secretary in the Department of Child Health in the medical school at the University of Missouri-Columbia Hospital in 1978 and retired as senior secretary in 1998. Another favorite story of hers was the time she ventured over to the VA Hospital gift shop (across the street from her office) during a lunch break and bought a coat without consulting Elmer. She was worried about how he might react to the purchase, but she didn’t return it and wore that coat for at least 40 years.

Joyce and Elmer were very active in Memorial Baptist and Cornerstone Baptist Churches in Columbia, Missouri. She continued to sing in the choir as an adult and often worked in the nursery at church. Joyce was dedicated to serving God, which was evident in the ways that she genuinely cared about people. Her efforts to help others continued throughout her lifetime. For example, she combined her hobby of quilting with this goal. Joyce made many baby quilts that she donated to the children’s hospital and local charities. Her children and grandchildren cherish the heirloom guilts that she made for them. Joyce also loved birdwatching and noted her observations and sightings in bird books. Another favorite activity was traveling which took her to places all over the world, such as Israel, Peru, and Europe. Prior to Elmer’s untimely death at age 54, the two of them traveled all over the United States, including to Colorado with friends from church where they loved the beauty of the landscape. Although she enjoyed traveling, Joyce treasured the time that she spent with her family the most, especially being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joyce is survived by her son, Mark L. Schlemper, and three daughters: Sandra J. (Schlemper) Baker (Christopher J. Baker), M. Beth Schlemper (Daniel J. Hammel), and Ann M. Schlemper. In addition, eight grandchildren (listed from oldest to youngest: Mark R. Schlemper (Kristel D. Schlemper), Kristan A. (Baker) Cook (Tyler L. Cook), Curtis A. Deeter (Danielle K. Deeter), Matthew W. Baker, Grant D. Wright, Gabriel R. Ivey, Cayley M. Bledsoe, and Isaac A. Bledsoe. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren (oldest to youngest): Noah E. Schlemper, Kaitlin B. Schlemper, Natalie A. Schlemper, Julian E. Cook, and Theodore J. Deeter. Finally, four of Joyce’s sisters are living: Opal Marie Morris, Isola Francis (Morris) Bruns, Marilyn Janice (Morris) Fickensher, and June Rose (Morris) Helterbran.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer O. Schlemper (d. 1994), and her parents, Lewis Ray Morris (d. 1966) and Zeta Marie (Dunagan) Morris (d. 1960). In addition, she was preceded in death by her three brothers and two sisters (in chronological order by year of death): Darla Jean Morris (d. 1942), Donovan Lee Morris (d. 1978), Sandra Lynn (Morris) Helfend (d. 2010), Homer Isaac Morris (d. 2019), and Eugene Ray Morris (d. 2023). With much sadness, prior to her death, Joyce also lost a great-grandson, Archer M. Cook (d. 2016) and a daughter-in-law, Lisa (Ivey) Schlemper (d. 2023).

A memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W, Columbia, Missouri 65202. Visitation will start at 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to either the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org/) or Memorial Baptist Church in Columbia, Missouri (https://www.memorialbaptist.org/give).