Joyce Merlyne (Petry) Estep, 84, of Peculiar, MO, passed away May 12, 2024 at her home in Peculiar. The service to celebrate her life was held on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Harrisonville Church Of The Nazarene. The service  was conducted by Joyce's children: Dr. Eddie Estep, Rev. Kim Duey, Rev. Scott Estep, and Dr. Steve Estep with Rev. Steve Suttles from the Harrisonville Church of the Nazarene. Interment  at Orient Cemetery in Harrisonville, MO.

Joyce was born in Foster, West Virginia, on March 14, 1940, to Roy E. Petry, Sr. and Gladys G. McKinney Petry. After living in West Virginia until 2005, she and her husband moved to Peculiar, MO, where she was a member of the Harrisonville Church of the Nazarene. While spending most of her life in WV, she was active in the Miami, Belle, and Paden City Churches of the Nazarene. She enjoyed serving as an organist, choir member, children's church and teen Bible quiz director, teen choir director, Sunday School teacher, and various boards. She loved the Lord and served him for most of her life.

She was employed by the Wetzel County Board of Education in WV for almost 26 years and served most of that time as treasurer. After retiring in 2001, Joyce and Donald enjoyed traveling to spend time with family and also vacationing several times each year.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Patricia Gail Petry; and brother, Roy E. Petry, Jr. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Dr. Donald L. Estep of Peculiar, MO; her children: Dr. Edward L. Estep (Diane) of Overland Park, KS; Kimberly D. Duey (Robert) of Peculiar, MO; Scott A. Estep (Kim) of Rudloph, OH; and Dr. Stephen M. Estep (Michelle) of Marion, OH; nine grandchildren: Joshua Estep of Columbus, OH; and Jeff Estep of Mt. Vernon, OH; Nathan Meek of Coshocton, OH; and Derek Duey of Woodstock, GA; Seth Estep of Bowling Green, OH; and Shani Estep of Rudolph, OH; Brandon Estep of Marion, OH; Brooke Estep of Marion, OH; and Blake Estep of Akron, OH; eleven great-grandchildren: Alexis Meek, Felicity Duey, Adaline Duey, and Eloise Duey; Ellie Estep, Emery Estep, and Sunny Estep; Sawyer Estep, Sailor Estep, Sutter Estep, and Hayes Estep; her sister, Juanita Kay Hill (Boyd) of Sissonville, WV; brothers-in-law: Darius Estep of Massilon, OH; and Lowell Bixler of Navarre, OH; and several nieces and nephews. Her family was important to her. She dearly loved and was loved by them.

Pallbearers for the service will be Jeff Estep, Nathan Meek, Derek Duey, Seth Estep, Brandon Estep, and Blake Estep.