Joyce A. Zeller, 84, passed away peacefully in her sleep June 12, 2016 at her home in Eureka Springs, Ark. She was born Jan. 23, 1932, as Joyce Arlene Krone, in Harrisburg, Pa.
She graduated from J.P. McCaskey High School in the class of 1949, near the top of her class. In 1950, she decided to serve her country during the Korean War, and joined the Women’s Army Corps, where she was stationed in Fort Riley, Kan. She met her husband, Robert J. Zeller, at Fort Riley. They raised a family with four children in Arlington Heights, Ill.
Joyce was always a take-charge woman, offering leadership in many things, from Cub Scout Den Mother, to involvement in a number of local committees in Arlington Heights, to her long involvement in a theater group known as “Village Theater.” Joyce was also an established columnist for the Arlington Herald, where she had a cooking column entitled, “The Working Woman Cooks.”
Joyce established her roots in Eureka Springs, Ark., in 1979 when she opened the Caswell-Massey perfume and toiletry shop. She and her husband Bob moved to Eureka Springs officially in 1982. Her store later changed its name to “The Spa Shop,” and thrived there for 32 years.
Later in her life, she became more involved in local politics and finally ran for City Council of Eureka Springs. She was twice elected to council, as her popularity among the Eureka Springs residents, along with determination, lifted her to her stature. Joyce also ran twice for Mayor of Eureka Springs.
One of the most memorable highlights of her political career occurred last year, when she was featured in an episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on Comedy Central, which aired on July 29, of 2015.
Joyce had a life-long ambition of being a writer and book author, and began writing her first manuscript for The Haunting of Aaron House, approximately 14 years ago. Since then, she has written and published six novels which include Maddie’s Choice, Love in a Small Town, Accidental Alien, Love Out of Time, Christmas for Annabel, and finally, The Haunting of Aaron House, and a non-fiction book, Hidden History of Eureka Springs.
Joyce is survived by her daughter, Pam, and husband Steve Babcock; her three sons, Perry and his wife, Betty; Jeff and his wife, Katie; and Steve and his wife, Cynthia. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Visitation will be at 4 – 7 p.m., Friday, June 24, 2016 at the Nelson’s Chapel of the Springs, 150 W. Van Buren, Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 25, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church of Eureka Springs, 195 Huntsville Rd, Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Interment will follow in the Eureka Springs Cemetery; Eureka Springs, Arkansas under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service, Inc.
Memorial donations may be made to the Joyce Zeller Memorial funds: https://www.gofundme.com/Memorial4Joyce or at any Cornerstone Bank location. Online condolences may be sent to the family at nelsonfuneral.com. © Nelson Funeral Service, Inc. 2016