Joyce Marie Schmitt

On March 21, 1944, in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, Joyce Marie Shults made her entrance into this world. The daughter of Homer Shults and Wanda Shults (Frazier), Joyce would call Tennessee home for close to a decade before relocating to Kokomo, Indiana, with her family where she would spend the remainder of her days making life beautiful with her happy disposition and love for life!

Joyce is survived by her daughter, Staci Harter, of Kokomo, and Grandchildren, Bo (Tami) Weir, of Russiaville, Josh Lawson, Jeffrey Taylor Jr. and Sarah Lanning of Kokomo, IN. Great grandsons Baylor Weir and Silas Perkins and Great granddaughters Haley Lawson, MacKenna and Hadley Patton. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents Homer and Wanda Shults, and son Jeff Stephenson.

As a 1962 graduate of Kokomo High School, Joyce invested over thirty years at the local GM facility. After retirement, her desire to always do more was made manifest through continued education and graduation from the Alexandria School of Scientific Therapeutics. With the creation of her own therapeutic outreach, aptly named JJ’s Health Clinic, she was able to help the lives of patients at her clinic as well as traveling to various on site locations for those who were not able to travel to her. Joyce had a deep passion about helping others feel and be the best they could be. She will always be remembered for her selfless giving.

Joyce had an almost magical view of the world and could see beauty where others could not. Her yard held a beautiful collection of geodes, crystals, rocks, and other treasures of nature providing the perfect landscape for the birds she enjoyed watching that would take refuge in an almost sanctuary like setting. She enjoyed traveling world wide with friends to attend auctions and find collectibles. She spent lots of time on the East Coast while on these searches. If there was a way to add excitement to life, Joyce made it happen.

She was also actively involved in several local clubs and organizations to include the City of Firsts Volkswagen Club. She raised funds for American Cancer Society by participating in Relay for Life events. Joyce currently still holds the record for women aged 50-59 for speed walking two miles with the Kokomo Roadrunners.

On Thursday, July 31, 2025, we will celebrate the life of Joyce and honor her memory with a graveside service at 11:00 am. Family and friends will meet at funeral home at 10:45 to caravan to cemetery site. Joyce will be buried at Sunset Memory Gardens and Cemetery located 2097 W Alto Road, Kokomo, IN 46902. Because of Joyce’s great love of flowers, the family is requesting in lieu of sending floral arrangements to them, please feel free to bring a small offering of fresh flowers to leave at the gravesite with Joyce when the ceremony is finished.