Joyce Snook Hartnett

Joyce Elaine Magruder was born December 9, 1923 to Jim and Alma Magruder. She was raised on a farm in Shelbina, Missouri with sister Josephine and brother Jack (Arlene). She learned to sew and embroider as a young girl. Joyce graduated from Shelbina High School in 1941 and attended Chillicothe Business College for one year. Her courses included Machine Bookkeeping, Business English, Letter Writing, Penmanship and Personality. Moving to Kansas City in 1942, Joyce carried a letter of recommendation to help her obtain a job with the Federal Reserve Bank. After the war, Joyce met Hubert Snook. In 1944 they were married at Trinity Methodist Church.

Joyce stayed home to raise Linda (Glenn Wyant), Sandy, and Rob (Cindy). A family business, Snook’s Modern Jewelry, was born in 1958. In her “spare” time Joyce waited on customers, kept the books and strung pearls. As her kids grew, Joyce began a career with the Shawnee Mission School District managing a team of rambunctious “cafeteria ladies.” She wanted to earn extra money for her kids to attend college. She fed daily lunch to 400 children and staff at Roesland Elementary from 1965-1986.

Two years after Hubert died in 1985, Joyce began dating next door neighbor John Hartnett. They were married in 1987 and a new family was formed. John brought his grown children Joe, Frank, Bob, Martha (Riley) and Chris and grandchildren into the growing clan. In 1994, Joyce and John moved to Lakeview Village in Lenexa, Kansas. They joined Lenexa United Methodist in 1995 where they participated in RPM Sunday School and service circles. Joyce was awarded Lakeview “Volunteer of the Year” in 1997. Joyce and John (1917-2011) enjoyed family, traveling, conversation, cribbage, cooking, and volunteering.

Joyce was warm light. A smiling, sewing, baking, crocheting, painting, fixing, stringing, listening, gardening, dancing, giving, busy, loving light. When she laughed, you felt it. She had a gentle way of feeding others, even when she wasn’t serving meals.

Joyce is survived by her Snook children, Linda (Glenn) Wyant, Harrisonville, MO; Sandy Snook, Roeland Park, KS; Rob (Cindy) Snook, Platte City, MO; grandchildren, Aaron Wyant, Kansas City; Kristy Riley, Lee’s Summit MO; Jonah Wyant, Kansas City, MO; Amy (Jeff) Squiric, Raytown, MO, April (Brian) Atkins, Holt, MO and George Snook, Kansas City, MO. Joyce also leaves her Hartnett children Robert Hartnett, Loudonville, NY and Martha (Brad) Riley, Sharpsburg, IA; grandchildren Colin Riley, Corning, IA; Jacob Riley, Prescott, IA; Megan (Brady) Weaver, Wakefield, NE; Sarah Hartnett, Schenectady, NY; Michael Hartnett, Albany, NY; and step-grandson Tony Hartnett (Wendy), Ft. Worth, TX. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren: Alan Atkins, Blaine Atkins, Henry Snook, Kristopher Riley, Rylan Weaver, Jocelyn Weaver, Alexia Weaver, Alyssa Weaver, Mary Riley, Michael Riley, Andrew Hartnett, Nicholas Hartnett, and Brady Hartnett.

We’ve lost her living light, but Joyce’s energy will continue to surround us. Her example will inspire us. She’d want nothing less than for us to model kindness and be happy.

The family wants to thank the staff and residents of Lakeview Village for their support and care of Joyce over many years – especially in the Care Center.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Lakeview Village Foundation, Lenexa, KS or the American Red Cross.