Joyce Meshek

Joyce Madalyn Endicott Meshek was born February 5, 1931 in Ralston, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of William Nelson and Hazel Tula (Batten) Endicott. Joyce moved with her family to Perry at an early age where she attended the Christ Lutheran School. She later moved to Pawnee where she graduated from Pawnee High School in 1949. Upon graduation from high school, Joyce accepted employment as a clerk at the Pawnee Drug Store. It was at the drug store where she met William Edward Meshek who often came in near closing time for a malted milk shake. She worked for a while as the secretary for the Pawnee School Board and Superintendentís office. Joyce was married to William Edward ìBillî Meshek on October 6, 1951 in Pawnee, Oklahoma. The couple made their initial home in Pawnee at the Ferguson Apartments until Bill completed the construction of their new home on a farm near Blackburn. The couple resided on the farm together, raising their two sons, Tom and Mark, for over fifty-three years before Bill passed away on May 20, 2005. Joyce continued to reside on the family farm until July 2008 when she relocated to the Baptist Village in Cleveland. For many years, Joyce assisted Bill in the daily operation of the family farm where they grew their business from 200 laying hens to nearly 800 and would sell their eggs to local stores and restaurants as well as regionally. They additionally operated a ranching and farming operation covering 600 acres. After working as a secretary for the Oklahoma State Department of Human Services for a couple of years, Joyce accepted employment as an office manager for Dr. Joe Hanson in Cleveland until his death in 1972. She then began a long career as office manager for Dr. Scott Hickerson and Dr. Perry Evans until 1981, when Dr. Hickerson passed away. She continued working for Dr. Perry Evans and although she retired in 2005, Joyce continued to assist Dr. Evans until her death. Her administrative skills coupled with her caring and compassionate personality made her an invaluable asset to these physicianís offices. Joyce was an active member of the First United Methodist Church for nearly fifty-years; where she has served as a youth and adult Sunday school teacher and on the administrative board for many years. She passed away on Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at the Oklahoma State University Medical Center in Tulsa at the age of seventy-nine years. She is survived by her two sons and their wives, Tom and Janet Meshek of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Mark and Janice Meshek of Pawnee, Oklahoma; four grandchildren, Margaret K. and Raymond Penny of Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, Audrey M. Meshek of Tulsa, Justin E. Meshek and Gracie Meshek of Pawnee, Oklahoma; two great-grandchildren, Regina and Julian Penny of Camp LeJeune, North Carolina; and a brother, James G. and his wife, Maxine Endicott of Perry, Oklahoma. In addition to her husband, Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Ella Frances Endicott and Lorene Gorman; and four brothers, Bill, Nelson, Charles and Clayton Endicott. Joyce loved life and loved people. It was always a great joy when she could serve others. The family home was the scene of many events where family and friends came for food, fun and conversation. Joyce loved to cook and made many huge meals for family events. She made the best meat loaf and the best fried chicken. On Thanksgiving, she always made oyster stuffing. The family was blessed to have been able to spend Thanksgiving with her at the Baptist Village this year where she entertained nineteen friends and family. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Saturday, December 11, 2010 at First United Methodist Church with Rev. David Mingus officiating. Burial will be at the Blackburn Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home in Cleveland.