Mrs. Joyce Eilson Beardsley, 91, of Galesburg, Illinois, died Sunday, October 15, 2017, at Marigold Care Center, Galesburg, Illinois.Born July, 18, 1926 in Biggsville, Illinois, she was the daughter of Albert Edward and Martha Louise Douglass Warth.
On September, 22, 1946, she married Delbert Earl Beardsley at First Presbyterian Church, New London, Iowa. Joyce was raised on a farm near New London. She was a 1943 graduate of New London High School. Joyce attended the Pioneer College of Business at Iowa Wesleyan College and became a stenographer in 1946.
Joyce was a homemaker and cooked for 16 years at the PEO home in Knoxville, Illinois. Joyce was a member of the Amethyst Club, Mother of Twins Club, Red Hat Society, and Galesburg Artist Guild. Joyce enjoyed all kinds of crafts and art but focused on china, water, and oil painting. Joyce was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church of Knoxville. She enjoyed time with family and grandchildren.
Survivors include three sons, Douglass (Maria) of Knoxville, William (Debbie) of Knoxville, John (Gina) of Gilson; two daughters, Karen Fears of Nevada, and Mary Beardsley Hunt of Colorado; two sisters, Janet Scott of Muscatine, Iowa, and Carol Ann (Richard) Fogel of Antioch, Illinois; eight grandchildren; four step grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; five step great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Delbert in 2002; two brothers, Donald and Paul; one sister; Joan and her husband Clarence Beardsley brother of Delbert.
As her wish, cremation will be accorded, there will be no visitation, and gravesite gathering will be 11 A. M., October 21, 2017. Interment will be in the Knoxville Cemetery. Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Society, Knox County Humane Society, Knoxville Historical Society, and Knoxville Food Pantry. Arrangements have been entrusted to Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
