Joyce Marie (Teas)
Stapleton joined her adoring husband in heaven on December 14, 2022. Joyce was born to Harvey and Minnie Teas June 26, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas. The first girl in a family with 4 boys before her, Joyce grew up full of joy and spirit. She spent most of her childhood in Lovington, New Mexico.
In 1954 Joyce attended Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Oklahoma where she met Edwin LeRoy “Lee” Stapleton at a college mixer. They were inseparable. They married on June 10, 1955 and spent time between Bethany and Stillwater, Oklahoma while Lee
finished his education, going home during summers to work on the family farm..
Joyce and Lee had two children, Donna Jane and Steven Lee, and the family settled on the farm south of Sublette, Kansas. But settled was never a word that described Joyce. She was always busy raising her family, helping on the farm and very involved in the Nazarene Church. She loved to entertain and their home was always full of family and friends. When the grandchildren arrived she became the best grandma ever. Countless nights were spent at grandma’s and she and Lee attended all kinds of school activities.
In her late 50’s Joyce decided it was time for a change. She and Lee moved to Oklahoma City where she attended Bethany Nazarene University and received her Master’s Degree in Psychology. She taught for several years at Bethany Nazarene University and Garden City Community College.
Joyce and Lee moved to Garden City, Kansas in 1995 and enjoyed many years there involved in the community and The First United Methodist Church. She is survived by her daughter, Donna White of Sublette, KS; son, Steven Stapleton of Sapulpa, OK; grandchildren, Steffanie McAllister and husband Mark of Sublette, KS, Ryan White of Lawrence, KS, Jason Stapleton and wife Nancy of Scottsdale, AZ, Kristin Penner and husband Johnny of Sublette, KS, Aaron Stapleton and wife Jenna of Dallas, TX, and Sarah Stapleton of Overland Park, KS; great-grandchildren, Alex White and wife Anna of Sublette, Rylee, Preston, Mallory, Campbell, Gage, Levi, Jaxson, Hailey, Morgan, Colin, Ragan, Eden, and Elliott; sisters, Patsy Price and husband Sam of Oklahoma City, OK, and Linda Hodges of The Colony, TX; brothers, Harvey Teas and wife Natalia of Hemet, CA, and Paul Teas and wife Margaret of Austin, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband LeRoy Stapleton; parents, Harvey and Minnie Teas; brothers, Edward, Roy, and Henry Teas; son-in-law Michael White; and a daughter-in-law, Vickie Stapleton.
Joyce was a strong, smart, independent woman always full of joy and fun. From the first moment she met Lee, she became part of a love story rarely seen. Lee was her knight in shining armor and he adored her. Together they raised a family full of love and faith. Together they taught us all what love and family can be.
To honor her memory a family gathering is being planned for this coming spring. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place.
Suggested memorial contributions can be made payable to the Western Kansas Community Foundation or the Sublette Church of the Nazarene Youth in care of Weeks Family Funeral Home & Crematory, PO Box 1200, Sublette, KS 67877. Condolences may be left online at WeeksFamilyFuneralHome.com.