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Joyce Marie Parish Rothlisberger passed away on July 6, 2015, in Tulsa, Oklahoma with her daughter, Barbara, by her side. She is the daughter of Charley Buster Parish and Fannie Delithe Weaver Parish.
She was born in Silo, Oklahoma and grew up in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and, joined the United State’s Women’s Army Corps. She married James Odell Kirk on Nov. 2, 1956. They had one son, David James Kirk, and later divorced. On April 14, 1962 she married Andrew Gibbons Rothlisberger. Andrew and Joyce added to his family of two: three more children and a niece that they took guardianship of joined to make their new family.
She got her Bachelor’s of Science in Education Degree with emphasis in mathematics. Joyce lived and taught school in Zuni, New Mexico, Eagar and Hayden and substituted in Sanders and St. John. She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, teaching Sunday School and being the librarian. She loved playing games with her family and loved to read.
She is survived by her children, David James (LaNeta June) Kirk of St. Johns, Barbara Ann (Jeff) Lowe of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Beth Ann (Scott) Sleeman of Farmersville, Texas, Brenda Lou Eilertsen of Safford, along with Robert “Bob” (Linda) Rothlisberger of Arizona and Beverly Ann (Waite) and her husband, Dale Jamison, of St. Johns; grandchildren, Tasha Rothlisberger; Jason and Bradley; Kirk, Kara, John, Amy and Jennifer Lowe; Tyler Paige and Benjamin Steeman; Nickole, Mindy and Carl Ellertsen; Monette, Dana, Shauna, Collette, Stacy, Richard and Grace Waite; and Vinson, Kris, Bryan, Kevin and Kelli Rothlisberger; and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Joyce is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Andrew Gibbons Rothlisberger; son, Richard Allen Rothlisberger; siblings, Juanita Wells, Claude and Robert Knuckles; and grandchildren, Nicole Waite, David Henry Kirk, Lacey Rose Eilertsen and Andrew Jacob (A.J.) Sleeman.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 17, at the St. Johns Stake Center, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Viewing will start one hour before the services at the church. Interment will be at the Westside Cemetery in St. Johns.
Arrangements are under the direction of Burnham’s Mortuary in St. Johns.
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