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Joy Selzer Thurston

December 14, 1949 ~ August 3, 2023

Born in: Desoto, Missouri
Resided in: Desloge, Missouri

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Joy Selzer Thurston, age 73, of Desloge passed away on Thursday, August 3, 2023, peacefully alongside her son Pete Selzer III and her wiener dog Winnie. Joy was born on Wednesday, December 14, 1949, to the late Fred and Jean (Bridges) Sapper.

In addition to her parents and son, she was preceded in death by first husband Pete Selzer Jr,; sisters, Rita and Reta Sapper; in-laws, Pete and Virginia Selzer; sister-in-law, Janet House; second husband, Harold Thurston; his mother, Betty Thurston.

Joy is survived by her loving daughters Tracy (Rob) Burns and Carmen (Dewayne) Higgins, grandchildren Casey and Rion Burns, Madison Nohren, Destiny Higgins and Bailea Higgins; four step-children, Mendy (Josh) Findley, Jamie (Ken) Thurston, Travis Thurston and Robie (Allison) Thurston; five great-grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; sister, Becky Sapper; brothers, Greg (Kathy) Sapper and Joe Sapper; sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law; beloved foreign exchange students; bonus children, Montse and Christina along with other family and friends survive.

Joy was a bus monitor for Special Acres State School and a member of Delassus Baptist Church. She was everyone’s friend and loved going places and staying busy. If you asked her to go somewhere she packed her dancing shoes and was ready to go. She was the center of the universe to her children and grandchildren. She taught them to love deeply and stay loyal. She will be missed beyond measure.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 6, 2023, from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM at C. Z. Boyer & Son Funeral Home in Desloge. Visitation will resume at the funeral home on Monday, August 7, 2023, from 11:00 AM until service time of 1:00 PM. with Pastor Chuck Lotz officiating. Burial to follow at St. Francois Memorial Park in Bonne Terre. Family asked that memorials be made in memory of Joy to the choice of the donor.

Services

Visitation: Sunday, August 6, 2023
4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Boyer Funeral Home Desloge
1116 N. Desloge Dr.
Desloge, MO 63601

Add to My Calendar America/Chicago 2023-08-06 16:00:00 2023-08-06 09:00:00 JoySelzer ThurstonVisitation Visitation 1116 N. Desloge Dr.,Desloge, MO 63601

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Visitation: Monday, August 7, 2023
11:00 am - 1:00 pm

C.Z. Boyer & Son - Desloge
1116 N Desloge Dr.
Desloge, Missouri 63601

Add to My Calendar America/Chicago 2023-08-07 11:00:00 2023-08-07 01:00:00 JoySelzer ThurstonVisitation Visitation 1116 N Desloge Dr.,Desloge, Missouri 63601

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Funeral Service: Monday, August 7, 2023
1:00 pm

C.Z. Boyer & Son - Desloge
1116 N Desloge Dr.
Desloge, Missouri 63601

Add to My Calendar America/Chicago 2023-08-07 13:00:00 2023-08-07 13:00:00 JoySelzer ThurstonFuneral Service Funeral Service 1116 N Desloge Dr.,Desloge, Missouri 63601

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  1. I first met Joy when I went to work at FMA In Farmington. She was my first supervisor. She was a sweet, fair, fun, lady, I had a lot of respect for her. I believe she would anything to help someone in need. I think her & Pete were a perfect couple. I believe the world lost a really good person. God called one of His angels home. My heartfelt sympathy to her family, I am so sad for your great loss. Prayers lifted for her family

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  2. Candle 8Joy you were one of the most precious, loving and caring people I ever had the pleasure to know. Your smile was contagious. I love you for forevers forever. ❤️ Rest in peace. I hope your dancing with your Petey. You’ll be forever missed.

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  4. Candle 8To my soul sister, my best friend .. I was truly blessed to have had you in my life. I will love you most till I see you again. Rest in peace

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  5. Candle 1My heart is really sad for the Burns family and friends. I was honored to be Joy’s friend. She was beautiful. She was strong, She had a lot of spunk and she always had the best day of her life everyday . Joy was the bus monitor and we work together. She enjoy the kids on the bus they put a big smile on her heart. When we work together, we took our job serious but we always did a lot of silly things for the kids to get a laugh. but we wanted to make sure the kids had the best day they could have.and Joy love singing, dancing reading books to the children on the school bus. I would join in parts of the songs and do those silly dance as we did as we did for fun so the kids would smile . She took care of me and the children on the bus on the bus. I always looked forward to picking Joy up every morning for we could have a fantastic day together. we shared a lot of good times and a lot of stories. we had a lot of laughs together, and I was honored to be her friend. I love her with all my heart. My heart is very sad. that I have to say goodbye rest in peace along with your son Petey. God has a plan for you both. I just wish it didn’t have to be so soon. 💔
    Peace, and love
    Janet

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  8. Joy, you were such a lovely person. You were always sweet, kind and loving. I know you loved my brother and his kids very much. I am so sad for your children and grandchildren. It is so hard to loose you and Pete both. Tracy, Carmen and all the grandkids just want you to know how sorry I am. Our family loved your mom very much. Prayers for you all.

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  9. Candle 8The Seltzer family represents such love, joy and care for each other. The ones that are gone will be so missed. Prayers for the ones that are still here. 🙏 So thankful to know this wonderful family. June and Paul Weiss

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  10. I Worked With Joy At FMA. I Just Talked To Her Last Week! This Is Such A Shock!!
    She Had Such A Kind Heart And A Great Laugh! My Heart Goes Out To The Family. Prayers & Hugs To All…
    RIP Pretty Lady And Fly High With Those New Wings….

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  11. Joy, you were one of the most Sweetest Ladies I’ve ever know. I shall always remember My Son Will’s Last Dance, that he had with you, one month before he left this Earth on 2/13/2019!! Now Joy, you and Will can DANCE FOREVER IN HEAVEN!!

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  12. Ms. Joy,
    You will be truly missed by many. You were one of the kindest and most genuine people l have had the honor to meet. You helped me through a very tough time in my life. I will never forget your generosity and the love you had for everyone. The pride and love you had for your family is a true testament of who you were.

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  13. Candle 8Joy you were an amazing lady! You have blessed so many people through the years I’ve known you and you have touched all of our hearts. You will forever be missed dearly. We are all lost without your beautiful smile that lite every room you walked into. I pray you have ever lasting eternity thats full of joy with your beloved husband and Petey! Love you always!

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  14. Candle 2Joy, you were one of the first people I met when I came to Farmington. You were always so sweet and always had a smile on your face. Heaven is lucky to have you!

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  15. I sure am going to miss our daily talks. I just knew you were going to come talk to me at least once a day to check in on the kiddos and to keep me updated on them as well. I am going to miss that smile when you would look in my classroom of an afternoon to see how the day went. It breaks my heart for your family and our work family. I know you’ll be looking in on us from here on out. You sure are going to be missed!

    Until we meet again—

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  16. Sincere condolences to all your families. My thoughts and prayers to each of you during this very difficult time.

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  17. Candle 8Aunt joy you was a blessing to so many you was a lot like grandma she showed unconditional love just like you how to love so strong you overlooked people’s faults I love you and know that a true angel has returned to heaven today we will meet again one day not today but someday

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  18. Candle 2I worked with Joy for many years at FMA. I remember her as the sweetest person. It breaks my heart to hear the news of her and her son’s tragic deaths.
    Sympathies go out to the family and friends! Prayers too!

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  19. Candle 8Joy was a wonderful person! She was full of life and always enjoyed a good conversation! She will be greatly missed!

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  20. Candle 8Joy, you was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met. And you will be greatly missed. Fly high beautiful angel. ❤️

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