Joyce M. Walker

Born in rural Howard County, Missouri, to Homer A. and Alice Potthast Dodson, Joyce grew up in a home rooted in faith and family. She graduated from Boonville High School, attended Southwest Baptist University, and later earned her degree in Business Administration from Columbia College.

In 1951, Joyce married EJ Johnson, with whom she was blessed with three children: Denise, Terry, and Stephen. After EJ’s passing in 1971, Joyce found love again and married John J. “Jack” Walker in 1983 in Columbia, Missouri.

Joyce built a distinguished career, beginning with Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. and McGraw-Edison Co., before dedicating 27 years to the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS, now FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Her service took her from the county office in Boonville to the Missouri State office in Columbia, then to the National office in Washington, D.C. She retired in 1993 as a Management Analyst at the USDA computer center in Kansas City.

Faith was the cornerstone of Joyce’s life. Raised in the church by Christian parents, she served faithfully as an organist and pianist, choir member, Sunday School teacher, and in many leadership roles. After living in Raymore, Missouri, she and Jack moved to the Kingswood Senior Living Community in Kansas City, where Joyce continued to share her gift of music and volunteered on several committees. Since 2006, she was a devoted member of Colonial Presbyterian Church.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Jerry Dodson, her first husband EJ Johnson, her son Terry Johnson, her husband Jack Walker and most recently her daughter Denise Norman (Johnson).

She is survived by her son, Stephen Johnson (Kelly), and her son-in-law, Paul Norman. She leaves behind her grandchildren, Emily Johnson (Landon Schmidt), Stephanie Kempf, Emma Cook, and Madolyn Cook. She is also remembered by her step-grandchildren, Tyler Essman (Ashley) and Spenser Essman (Erin), and her step-great-grandsons, Graham, Maddox, and Arthur.

She is further survived by Jack’s son, Michael Walker (Joan), and their children, Christopher and Stephen, along with seven great-grandchildren.

Her extended family includes step-nephew Timm Walker (Karen) and his family. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Shirley Calvert (Nathan) and Janice Dodson (Jerry); nieces Tymm and Layna; and Janice’s daughters, Katherine and Jodi.

She will be lovingly remembered by many cherished friends.

A memorial service will be held at Colonial Presbyterian Church, 9500 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO, on Friday, December 5. Family visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Interment of ashes will take place on a later date at the Old Lamine Cemetery in Cooper County, Missouri, during a private family ceremony.