Joyce Marie Uebelhart's Obituary
Joyce Marie (Lyons) Uebelhart, age 96, formerly of Sebring, FL and Beaver, PA, went to be with her Lord on Friday, October 20, 2023, in Broken Arrow, OK. Family members were present in her final days.
Joyce was born in South Bend, Indiana on August 28, 1927 and is where she spent her childhood through high school. After high school graduation, she went on to Purdue University, where she met her husband. They were both extremely active in musical productions and members of the Glee Club.
They moved to Pennsylvania, had eight children and continued their musical endeavors for decades in the Beaver County and tri-state area. Joyce sang for various choirs, performed duets, countless solos and at many formal engagements. Sweet Adelines, with whom she toured Europe, was one of her favorites, With them, she had the extreme pleasure of performing in Austria, not unlike one of her favorites, Julie Andrews. Joyce also played the piano at various events, rehearsals, productions and played/sang in church choirs. She often performed many memorable 'solos' for the parishioners of the Beaver United Methodist and Presbyterian churches. One such remembrance, took place following an Easter Cantata, when in a dark sanctuary at the Beaver United Methodist Church, she knelt in front of a huge, well-lit and beautiful white cross - as she sung an acapella trilogy ... one of which was - "Were You There?". Since she sang like an angel in churches on earth - she may well be continuing that role in heaven (as these words are read).
Joyce even had her own recipe for potato salad printed in the Beaver County Times. It was always a 'hit' at her children’s school related functions and BBQs throughout several decades (1960's, 1970's and 1980's) and sharing this love of her special recipe through today. Sometimes we wondered where she got the time to cook meals - when her taxi service was always engaged for the kid's 'after-school' activities.
When Joyce moved to Sebring, FL in 1992, she became active in many musical outreaches there as well. She spent decades participating in productions given at the Highlands Little Theater (downtown Sebring) - both on stage and off (as well as in the kitchen). She was honored with a number of awards, including 'The Gracie Award' - for her years of service and 75 citations (accolades).
Joyce and her mother Lois Lyons, who also resided in Sebring, FL, were proud members of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in the Patriots Chapter, Sebring, FL. Joyce was also a member of the Highlands Delta Chorale and volunteered around town. She helped seniors improve their driving for a local school and volunteered at a local not-for-profit helping with physical rehabilitation to injured seniors. Since she was always active in something - it was not difficult for her to remain thin and healthy during the entire course of her life :). She touched the lives of so many people, in so many positive ways ... that words just seem to fall incredibly short. Joyce was truly a blessing and 'hard-working' and devout mother - and highly regarded in her “hometowns” of Beaver, PA and Sebring, FL.
Joyce was a remarkable woman of deep faith who loved and served her Lord Jesus Christ with an immense heart, who spent a lifetime rearing her eight children. She was always around to help with an army of grandchildren too. Grandma Joyce's motto was indeed ... "Grandma love a baby". To date, since she has nearly 40 grandchildren and great grandchildren ... she has already helped nurture nearly 50 children throughout her life. That is not something that many women can claim ... which also gives credence to her motto.
Joyce is survived by her eight children: Jayme, Jim, Joel, Jeff, Jody, John, Jocelyn and Jay - along with their spouses, a rather extensive list of grandchildren and great grandchildren and extended family.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents Ralph W. and Lois Lyons and her brother G. Dermont "Monty" Lyons of California.
(left by Joyce, author unknown)
SORROW
May God be with you in your sorrow,
Brighten every new tomorrow,
Free your heart of grief and care,
And leave just treasured memories there.
WE LOVE YOU, MOM!!
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