Joyce Marie Rhodes

Joyce Marie Rhodes exchanged her earthly address for her eternal home where Jesus met her with open arms on
October 26, 2022, 21 days before her 85th birthday.

Born November 16, 1937, to Daisy and Paul Miller in Springfield, Illinois, her name was chosen to reflect the
joy she brought following the tragic loss of the Miller's first two babies. As the oldest of seven children, Joyce
inherited a lot of adult responsibilities at an early age.

She loved the Lord early on and made it her habit to pray often and thoroughly. At the age of 16, her father
passed away suddenly. Home alone with the other children, Joyce shared the devastating news. Then, with her
own shattered heart, she gathered her brother and sisters around the coffee table and led them in prayer. The
power of prayer emanated throughout her life. At the end of her days when she was confined to a hospital bed,
she continued her prayer life and enjoyed hearing the prayers of those who stood by her bedside.

Shortly after losing her father, Joyce married Russell Rutherford Rhodes on June 15, 1954, and enjoyed 57
years with him before his passing in 2012. Even though she dropped out of high school to marry, she later
earned her GED and her realtor's license. A few years later, she took classes to become an accountant at St.
John's Hospital.

Rutherford, sometimes called Rudy, and Joyce were best friends and partners in building and selling homes.
Joyce relished in construction projects, remodeling projects, and living with lumber, nails, and floor plans
scattered around. She could figure materials for a house within one or two two-by-fours. Even in her 80s, she
was fearless with a hammer and a paint brush.

Having a green thumb, Joyce grew beautiful flowers. She also hung bird feeders and was delighted when an
oriole found its way to her feeders. Hummingbirds swarmed her homemade nectar every year and brought her
great joy.

Joyce leaves behind three children: Russell Lee Rhodes (Donna), Anita Marie Clouse (Randy), and Gerald
Dean Rhodes (Darlene), seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Family and faith were priorities for Joyce; she prayed arduously and continually for her children and
grandchildren to live a life of fellowship and faith with Jesus.

Joyce brought authentic joy. She smiled and laughed easily, always saw the positive side of a situation, and
lived by the Scripture in Nehemiah that says, "The joy of the Lord is my strength," and she shared her joy with
others.

During her illness, her faith was much larger than a mustard seed. She gave cancer a run for its money. Every
step of the way, her motto was "My God is BIG!" Even in her last days when she had lost the ability to speak,
she mouthed the words, "My God is big!"

The birds, bees, Home Depot, HGTV, candy industry, and the Morton salt company will all miss her very
much, but not as much as her friends and family. Although we rejoice that her earthly suffering has ended, there
is a huge hole in our hearts. We all agree that she is probably remodeling her mansion right now, most likely
painting something a shade of blue.

We will miss listening to her laugh, watching her chat, play, and read with her great-grandchildren, and
stepping around the chaos of her construction projects, but mostly, we will miss her prayers for us and her
example of a genuine child-like faith.

To leave a message of condolence for Joyce's family or to share a special memory of Joyce, please visit the guestbook below.