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Joyce A. (Whitesel) Jury Steward, 94, of Mifflintown, died Monday, April 7, 2025, at Valley View Rehab in Belleville.
Born Feb. 23, 1931, in Licking Creek Valley, she was a daughter of the late Martin and Carrie (Zimmerman) Whitesel. Her first husband, Nelson Duane Jury, whom she married June 3, 1952, died on March 6, 1982, and her second husband, Alton Steward, whom she married on June 24, 1989, died on Sept. 29, 2000.
She is survived by two children, Cathy Leach (Dick) of Mifflintown and Kevin Jury (Jackie) of Spring Mills; one sister, Maxine Varner of McAlisterville; her sister-in-law, Carol Whitesel of McAlisterville; two grandchildren, Carrie Jacobs (Scott) and Troy Klinger (Deneene); and three great-grandchildren, Austin Jacobs (Claire), Elaina Klinger, and Evan Klinger. Survivors also include three stepchildren, Gloria Cast, Sandra TormÈ, and Janet Jagers,
She was preceded in death by five siblings, Verda and Verdella Whitesel (infant twins), Vivian Young, Victor Whitesel, and Donald Whitesel and his wife, Harriet, and one brother-in-law, Bob Varner.
Joyce graduated from Juniata Joint High School in 1948 and was very proud to have won a science award while there.
She was a telephone operator engineer at Bell Telephone until her retirement.
Joyce was a member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church where she was active with various activities within the church. She was a member of Eastern Star, the Telephone Pioneers, and a former member of Milford Grange. She volunteered with Locust Grove Retirement Village, the Juniata County Library, and Juniata Meals On Wheels.
She enjoyed reading, word puzzles, different needle crafts, cooking and trying new dishes, going out to eat, and watching birds, especially hummingbirds.
Her funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 11, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, with Rev. Richard Adams, officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
There will be a viewing from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Friday.
The family will provide all flowers and requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, 8489 Licking Creek Road, Mifflintown, PA 17059 or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.
Guss Funeral Home, Inc., 20 S. Third St., Mifflintown is assisting the family. Condolences may be shared at www.gussfh.com.