OBITUARY

Joyce Harrison

July 26, 1941 – January 2, 2021

Joyce E. Harrison

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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Joyce Harrison

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Susan Trump

January 17, 2021

Joyce was a light in this world, lovingly sharing her music, her love of her cats and her radiant smile. She brightened up the lives of those around her, and there were so many! We'll carry her light on as we continue to share music and goodness in the world.
My sincere condolences to her family and her dear friend, Shari. I am blessed to have known Joyce.

Dora Tudor

January 12, 2021

Joyce and I were both students of New Madison High School.
I remember seeing her and Jess, her high school sweetheart, together in the halls. They made a sweet sweet couple.
Later I remember Joyce with the Country Strings, performing
her special talents which I always enjoyed. Joyce was a lovely
person and will be missed. Dora Ludy Tudor

Barbara & Vince Festa

January 10, 2021

Joyce Harrison was a kind and pleasant woman who was a friend to everyone she met. She loved her music and when she and Shari Wolf reached retirement years, it was no holds barred in playing and sharing their music with others.
About the same time her family began “exploding” with grand babies. She loved being with the family and showing her pictures of them all.
May her soul Rest In Peace. ... Barbara & Vince Festa

Diabe Bobo

January 9, 2021

Shari and I became close friends on the mid 1970’s and ultimately that friendship lead to becoming friends with Joyce, as well. Another close friend, Karen Clark and I became interested in the musical activities they were involved in and attended numerous events throughout the years. In recent years the four of us met monthly at the Pearson House in West Milton for breakfast and got together periodically to play cards and/or
board games. Though the pandemic curtailed our activities somewhat, we still met on several occasions until it
became unwise to do so. I was devastated to learn Joyce had contracted the virus. My condolences to all of Joyce’s family and to Shari and my thanks to Kevin for twice daily reports regarding
Joyce’s condition. I am sad and will miss
her tremendously.

Steve and Lori Spicer

January 9, 2021

Fifteen years ago we were blessed with the music from the "Country Strings" for our outdoor Renaissance themed wedding in Lima, Ohio. Their music filled the air on our special day. From that day I became Facebook friends with Joyce and Shari. We love to listen to dulcimer music and with Joyce knowing this, she contacted me about her and Shari playing in a shop in Wapakoneta, Ohio. What a great time we had!! We loved seeing Joyce's postings and pictures on FB, especially of her hummingbirds. Joyce had a heart of gold and a great personality. She will always have a special place in our hearts. May her music play on with each one of us, as she plays with the Angels in God's House.
God Bless everyone.

Steve and Lori Spicer
Lima, Ohio

Diana Claude

January 9, 2021

Joyce was a wonderful person whom I admired very much. She was a great teacher and a good friend. She was always interested in our Hammer Jammer group and willing to help us with a song. I attended Buckeye Dulcimer Festival just about every year and Joyce and Shari did such a good job with it. When we came to your house, Tom found mushrooms in your yard. You didn't know they grew there. But the best part for me was when Joyce and Shari played the hammered dulcimer and guitar for my daughters wedding 12 years ago. It was outdoors and we thought it was going to storm at any minute. Joyce will be missed by me and many many others. Much love and prayers to Shari and Joyce's family.

Brenda Vetter

January 8, 2021

I have many memories of Joyce, but the ones that come to mind first are of Country Strings playing for Piqua Players production of Smoke on the Mountain. I was playing the mother on that show. It's a funny show with old timey music and I persuaded C.S. to play. They were a hit and the audience loved them! We had a ball and so did the audience!

I always admired the musicianship and the heart that both Joyce and Shari showed when playing. I know that I will miss that. Goodbye my friend, we'll meet again.

Karen Peak (Eley)

January 8, 2021

When I thought about the many memories I have of my Aunt Joyce, the biggest, most meaningful memory is how she loved to have family gatherings. We had the most fun at the Hoff Christmas' where we would "Boooo" the winner of each Bingo round and Joyce would just sit there and laugh. She was so proud of all of the many presents that were laid on the table that her and her sisters had gathered to make the winner feel so excited to receive. She knew how to host an amazing Halloween party and bonfire with the scariest haunted barn. Then there was the extravagant Easter egg hunts. She loved watching us hunters of the eggs, as the prize eggs definitely brought out the competitiveness of us all! She just loved any excuse to get all of us together. I had the honor of her playing the hammered dulcimer at my wedding, and as my "something old" I wore a Bible locket with the Lord's Prayer inside that she had given me years before and will cherish that locket always. I will remember my Aunt Joyce and her beautiful smile and joyful laugh.

Hector Cruz

January 8, 2021

My deepest Sympathy to Joyce's family and Shari.

I can't imagine your sense of loss at this time. My path and Joyce's just barely brushed for a short time, and I feel her loss.

The deeper the sense of loss can only mean one thing; That the blessing you received from Joyce's touch on your life was THAT great, THAT deep!

I think of the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". How many people are better musicians, better friends, better listeners, or, just plain better, because they met, or learned from, talked, or shared life with Joyce? And, how many more people were touched - or will be touched - by those who were touched by Joyce?

She is finding out now... in Heaven.

Share your blessings!

Hector

Elizabeth Salt

January 8, 2021

I knew Joyce mostly through the Buckeye Dulcimer Festival. I always enjoyed chatting with her there and listening to her beautiful hammered dulcimer music. She and Shari ran a terrific dulcimer festival each year at Recreation Unlimited in Ashley, Ohio. I will always remember the twinkle in Joyce's eyes and her friendly smile when we talked about music. I've known Shari longer than Joyce (from our dulcimer tours to the British Isles with the Great Black Swamp Dulcimer Festival group in 1987 and 1990), and I want to send my sincere condolences to Shari and to Joyce's family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

FROM THE FAMILY