Joyce Cooksey

Joyce Lou Cooksey, 83, of Desloge, born 8 December 1941, passed May 12, 2025, peacefully. Joyce was born and lived outside of Blytheville Arkansas until she was twenty-three. After the death of her Father, they moved to Cahokia Illinois in 1964. Joyce worked hard her entire life from cleaning churches to office buildings. She worked for P.N. Hirsh & Company for over 20 years until the company closed. Joyce then worked full-time as a seamstress at Bridgedale Cleaners and out of her home for almost 30 years. Joyce moved to Desloge in July 2020 and retired at the early age of seventy-eight. If you have been doing math you may see a discrepancy in age, was she born in 1940 or 1941. The document shows 1941 but the late great Lorene Cooksey always said, 1940. We are going to give her credit for the extra year, it seems hard to believe someone could touch so many people in such a brief time.

1. Joyce spent her life as a resolute and loving daughter, sister, aunt, and mother figure. She was a valued and caring friend to everyone she knew. Joyce spent her life taking care of others. She passed on an offer of marriage to stay and take care of her mother. The gentlemen thought so
2. much of Joyce he brought his bride to be to meet Joyce and get her approval. Her home in Cahokia was a botanical garden with a hundred varieties of flowers and plants. She cared for the lawn and flowers long after she should have been in the heat doing such physical labor.
3. Joyce was an outstanding cook, from cookies, cakes, rolls and delicious meals. She saved the dresses with last minute alteration to be ready for a dance, prom, or wedding. She enjoyed making clothes, quilts and crafts for her extended family and friends. She upholstered her living
4. room furniture on more than one occasion, she was great at everything she tried. Her independence and mobility were paramount; she loved to shop and drive to McDonalds for her daily Diet Coke with extra ice. She decorated the altar and church building for every season and
5. occasion. Her faith in God was central to her being and the axis of her entire life. She was highly active member of Jerome Lane Baptist Church in Cahokia Illinois until it closed in 2023.
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7. Joyce was proceeded in death by her parents, Olen NMI, and Lorene NMI, Nee, Grant, Cooksey. Her sisters; Cora Sue Peterson, Martha “Joan” Anderson, Barbara “Ann” Schoenfeld, and Pauline Cooksey as a young child.
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9. Surviving is her siblings Thelma Sweet of Central Point Oregen, and Jim (Lura) Cooksey of Missouri. More nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews, then able to list.
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A memorial visitation will be held at C.Z. Boyer and Son Funeral Home in Desloge, Saturday, May 24, 2025 from 1:00 PM until Celebration of Life service at 2:00 PM. Pursuant to her wishes, Joyce will be cremated, and inurnment will take place in Arkansas. In lieu of flowers or plants, the family kindly request you consider a donation to a charity of your choice.