Joyce Laverne Farmer

Farmer, Joyce Laverne Sifford died Saturday night, October 19, 2013, at DePaul Hospital, Bridegeton, Missouri. She was born on October 24, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri. Joyce was the fourth daughter to be born to Raleigh Gene and Myrtle Lee Sifford. Her sisters, Leota, Dorothy and Wanda preceded her birth. Her brother, Raleigh Gene, Jr., followed her two years later. While living on Clara Avenue, the family attended Bethel Baptist Church and Joyce was baptized there when she was about ten years old. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Floy Avenue in North St. Louis. Joyce finished her grade school education at Herzog Elementary. Joyce received her high school education at Beaumont High School where she was consistently on the honor roll. She sang in the high school chorus and two operettas. She also sang with a contemporary choral ensemble, the Metropolitan Singers. In addition, she sang with her sisters, Leota and Wanda. The trio sang at various churches for several years. After moving to Floy Avenue, the family attended Hope Congregational Church for a short time. But soon they went to West Florissant Baptist Church which was closer to their home. Joyce was active in the church youth group and there she met Bob Farmer. In the summer of 1955, the church youth group went on a retreat to Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly near Ashville, North Carolina. That's when Bob and Joyce began to date. They were married on June 6th, 1959 at the West Florissant Baptist Church. Joyce received her elementary teacher's training at William Jewell College. In 1966, she began teaching kindergarten at North County Christian School. She loved teaching and was adored by approximately 900 students over 36 years. Her children's Christmas programs highlighted each school year. Survivors include her husband, Bob Farmer, Sr.; two sons, Bob Farmer, Jr., and Scott Farmer; a sister, Leota Shillinger, a brother, Raleigh Sifford, Jr., three grandchildren, Molly, Benjamin and Brendan Farmer; two nieces, Carolyn Grube and Marilyn Nelson, and five nephews, Richard, Kenneth and Russell Deason and Raleigh, Jr. and Kenneth Sifford. The family will receive friends and family at First Christian Church of Florissant, 2890 Patterson Road, Florissant, Missouri, on Tuesday, October 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. A second visitation will be at the church Wednesday, October 23, at 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m., with Steve Wingfield officiating. Burial will be at the Laurel Hill Memorial Gardens, 2200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Pagedale, Missouri. Memorials may be given to the North County Christian School, 845 Dunn Road, Florissant, Missouri.

Joyce Laverne Farmer

October 24, 1937 - October 19, 2013