The Pinecone
|
February 2015
• 7 •
Born in Monette, Arkansas to Jessie Osborn Miller and Harvey
Miller, Joyce was a welcomed and surprise addition to the family
that already had another daughter who was 15 years older than the
new baby. Her parents
owned and operated
a diverse mercantile
business in Monette.
Beginning her college
education at David
Lipscomb College, she
transferred to Arkansas
State College for a BSE,
majoring in English
and Reading. Joyce’s
devotion to teaching
children led her to
Manila
Elementary
School, teaching 6th
graders for 32 years
before retiring.
She met her future husband, Lee Dowless at Arkansas State.
Before matriculating, Lee had served in the U.S. Navy during
WWII, and began his life-long dream of farming. Lee and Joyce
had 2 children, daughter, LeeAnn, and son, Tom. After just 15
years of marriage, Lee passed away in 1966 at 41 years of age. But
his grandson, LeeAnn’s son, Michael Fowler, knows his granddad
through Joyce and LeeAnn sharing memories and photographs –
they told the family history, so to speak, to make real the man who
was Grandma’s first love.
Joyce ran for and won a seat on the Monette City Council,
serving for 8 years in that capacity. She was asked to Chair
the Council’s Beautification Committee and quickly won the
respect and cooperation of the whole Council through her skills
in budgeting, attracting volunteers to expand the paid staff, and
bringing tourists to visit Monette to see the elaborate and unusual
decorations for the Christmas Season and overall beautification of
the town’s public areas.
Daughter, LeeAnn, inherited her Mom’s skill in running a well-
oiled organization, raising money, and bringing diverse groups
together toward a common goal. LeeAnn Chairs the Laura Bush
Institute of Women’s Health, based in Dallas, TX. Fund-raising,
obtaining Federal and State support, raising public awareness of
unmet health needs – LeeAnn is her mother’s child indeed.
Joyce is an experienced and avid ballroom dancer; a competitive
card player (winning is what she’s all about); and open to
opportunities to contribute her skills and experience in Kirby
Pines’ public areas. All of us respond with pleasure to beautiful
scenes, and we are fortunate that Joyce has joined our community.
-
Jacqueline Besteman, Resident
A B E A U T I F U L H E A R T
Joyce Read
Joyce and friend, Nita Heffernan, enjoy an afternoon
outing at Paulette’s with the Lunch Bunch
When you dance, your purpose is not
to get to a certain place on the floor.
It’s to enjoy each step along the way.
-
Wayne Dyer
Joyce displays her dancing “kicks”
with fellow resident, Glenn Swinney
