Joyce Lee (Fletcher) Burke, 91, passed away at the Pleasant View Nursing Home in Rock Port, Missouri, on November 3, 2025, at 10:52 a.m.

She was born on May 23, 1934, the first child of her parents, Esther and Olin Fletcher. Joyce lived a full life from beginning to end and touched the lives of many people along the way through her generosity and strength of character. As a young girl, she had many pleasant memories of her home in the country of Atchison County, playing in the nearby stream with the tadpoles and picking fruit from the orchard nearby their home.

After graduating from Fairfax High School in 1952, she married her high school sweetheart, Donald Lee Burke, on October 5, 1952, and they lived in the country as farmers of the land for most of their lives. When at home, you could find Joyce being hospitable to any who came to her home, and Don taking a much deserved nap in his comfortable recliner.

She became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses early in their marriage and Donald, after thoughtful consideration, did as well. The friends they both made during their years together have remained by their side and spent many happy gatherings together. She always had a smile and often a song to share anywhere she would go, and go she did! Often she was going, driving in her ministry, to visit friends and family, and sometimes simply to go somewhere new. She loved her family and towards the end of her life, only regretted that she couldn’t do more.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Olin and Esther Fletcher; husband, Donald Burke; sisters, Bonnie Fletcher and Shirley (Fletcher) Beck; daughter-in-law, Willie (Henry) Burke; son-in-law, Philip Ritchie; and grandson, Timothy Burke.

Joyce was deeply loved and survived by her sons, Donald Christopher Burke and wife, Traci (Paris) Burke, and Rodney Wayne Burke; daughters, Cynthia Lea (Burke) Hirter and Jo Donna Louise (Burke) Ritchie; her grandsons, Stephen Wayne Burke and Christopher Wyatt Burke; and granddaughters, Rachel Elizabeth (Burke) Shenkle and husband, Colby Shenkle, Tiffani Charlene Burke, and Lydia Monique Ritchie.

Graveside services and burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Pleasant Ridge Cemetery near Fairfax. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schooler Funeral Home,  Fairfax/Craig.