REDKEY – Joyce Ann (Byrd) Ellis, age 72, Redkey, died Monday night at home following an extended illness.  Born in Montgomery, TN, on Oct. 23, 1942, she lived in Redkey since 1960.  She retired from Indiana Glass, Dunkirk, after working there twenty-six years.  Joyce was a member of First Freewill Baptist Church near Dunkirk.  Throughout her life she enjoyed fishing, camping, crocheting, and making quilts.  She sang with The Southern Gospel Singers from 1967 until 1979, traveling by bus throughout the south and mid-west states.  She was also a part of various other gospel singing groups over the years.

Survivors include her husband whom she married in 1959, Phillip M. Ellis; 2 daughters: Leisha Clevenger (husband: Arnold, Jr.), Dunkirk, and Trina Caldwell (husband: Brian), Dunkirk; 2 brothers: Don Byrd (wife: Shirley A.), West Des Moines, IA, and Tom Byrd (wife: Rayma), Virginia Beach, VA; 3 sisters: Imagene Miller (husband: Billy), Albany, Julia Dale Roberts, La Follette, TN, and Geneva Lynn Partin, La Follette, TN; step-mother: Lois Jean Byrd, La Follette, TN; 2 grandchildren: Wesley Clevenger (wife: Robin) and Billy Caldwell (wife: Lana); a great-granddaughter: Taryn Caldwell, and several nieces & nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Sigal E. & Ila Faye (Vann) Byrd; 2 brothers: Johnny Edward & Randolph Dean Byrd, and an infant sister: Alice Faye Byrd.

Services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015, at First Freewill Baptist Church, Dunkirk, with burial following at Hill Crest Cemetery, Redkey.

Memorials may be made to First Freewill Baptist Church in care of Meacham Funeral Service, P.O. Box 275, Albany, IN 47320.

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