1942 - 2024
Jocye Joyce Erkolein, 82, of El Dorado, Kansas, passed away Monday morning, December 16, 2024, at El Dorado Care and Rehab.
‘Joyce’ was born June 2, 1942, to Roy Hubert and Doris Pauline (Sinclair) Hunter in Winfield, Kansas. She attended school in Winfield up until her senior year 1959-60, when she eloped mid-year with Larry Bates and transferred to Augusta High School where she graduated as a part of their class of 1960.
After graduation, ‘Joyce’ worked numerous jobs as she traveled with her husband who was serving in the Air Force. Their travels took them to various military bases throughout the 48 contiguous states as well as living four years in the Panama Canal Zone before returning to Kansas. ‘Joyce’ and Larry have three children.
Her various jobs included working as a nurses’ aide in several nursing homes and hospitals and as a salesperson for a retailer who sold curtains and blinds.
‘Joyce’ graduated from the United States Army Pharmacy Technicians’ School and worked as a Pharmacy Technician at the Wichita Veterans’ Administration Hospital for 20 years. She retired in 1997.
In 1996, ‘Joyce’ married Morris Erkolein. They had worked together in the V. A. Pharmacy and had been friends for those 20 years. They lived in Rose Hill, Kansas until Morris’ passing. ‘Joyce’ loved her boxer dogs, her kitties, cross stitch work, sewing and quilting. She also loved volunteering her gifts of being a professional clown and making balloon animals for children at various community events such as ‘Jo-Jo’ the Clown. ‘Joyce’ didn’t believe in letting anyone pay her to be a clown. She did it for her joy and love of clowning. ‘Joyce’ was also a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Queen City Chapter #138 having served as Worthy Matron in 1980 and receiving her 50-year membership pin in 2021.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Larry Bates, and her second husband, Morris Erkolein.
She is survived by her three siblings: Clifdel (and Gerald) Dowler, Darold Hunter, and Ted (and Vivian) Hunter; her three children: Darold (and Sheri) Bates, Dana (and David) Williams and Fred (and Martha) Bates; her grandchildren: Melissa (and Chuck) Bates, Jason (and Sarah) Bates, Brandi (and Ted) Yarber, Lloyd (and Stormy) Bates, Bryan (and Kyle) Bates, Sean-Clyde (and Mattie) Bates, Logan (and Angela) Bates, Cassia Williams, Micah (and Ronald) Wilkins, Hannah (and Timothy) O’Farrell, and Daxton Hunter Alan Cohee; and her great-grandchildren: Justin, Tahlia, JJ, Topanga, Justin, Kadance, Arian, Duncan, Ethan, Alyssa, Emeri, Everleigh, Wesley.
Memorial services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Miles Funeral Service. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery.
