(Velma) Joyce Billups Clark (1931 – 2025)

“Take me home country roads, to the place I belong”…

We like to imagine that song playing as Mom broke free of Earth’s bounds on February 15, 2025, and rejoined her husband of 65 years in Heaven.

Joyce was born on October 14, 1931 in Kenova, WV, and graduated with her BA in Education from Marshall University in 1953. She taught physical education for several years, after which she enjoyed bowling and playing competitive bridge with the many friends she made in Holland, MI, Elizabethtown, KY and Spring Hill, FL. She and her husband spent the last several years in St. Louis, MO to be closer to family.

Joyce will forever be remembered for her love of coffee and happy hours, her delicious sweet potato casserole, her knowledge of sports trivia and country music, and her fierce love for her family. 

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents (Sam & Fern Billups of Kenova, WV), her husband (Garland C. Clark, Jr.), and her sister (Donna Lee Thompson of Spring Hill, FL). She is survived by her children, Michael H. Clark (Linda) of Holland, MI,  Jill Clark Laarman (James) of St. Louis, MO, and her five grandchildren, Katie Clark, Sam Clark, Meghan Laarman, Elise Laarman and Thomas Laarman.