AMBOY — Hazel Joyce Draper, age 91, of Amboy, died Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 at her home.

Cremation rites were accorded. A Time of Sharing will be held from 4 – 6 p.m., on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017, at the Garland Funeral Home in Walnut. Memorial services will be held on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Judy Giese, pastor of Red Oak United Methodist, officiating. Private burial of cremains will be in Walnut Cemetery at a later date.

Joyce was born on Nov. 20, 1925 in Sublette, the daughter of Glenn Ormond and Hazel (Anderson) Conner. Joyce attended Ohio schools and Sauk Valley College in later years. She served her country in World War II as a civilian clerk/typist at the US Navy Headquarters in Washington, D.C. and at wars end, was employed at a law office in Princeton.

She was a lifelong member of Ohio United Methodist Church, a member of the Methodist Woman’s Organizations, served as a Sunday School teacher and was secretary on the Board of Trustees.

Joyce married Merrill (Pat) Draper on Oct. 18, 1946 and lived in rural Lee County on the farm until moving to Amboy in 2010. When her children were a bit older, she was employed at the USDA Service Center in Amboy and was a weekly columnist for the Dixon Telegraph and the Amboy News, relating the trials and tribulations of a Rural Pearl.

Her interest included a great deal of reading to her children, grandchildren and also served as their Number 1 cheerleader. The Lee County 4-H program ranked high on her interest list and she freely admitted to being an avid political junkie. She was also a loyal Bears fan, especially during the glory years.

She loved life, God, her family, Church, Arizona and was a founding member of the Domino Club. Good family times included camping, showing 4-H animals on the Fair circuit and never missing any school activities. One of her many dreams came true when a committee of patriotic and grateful citizens invited her to join them in their determination to honor the Ohio veterans of all wars with a Memorial and it was dedicated on 11/11/11 and will be a reminder for everyone to never forget those who sacrificed for freedom of all.

She is survived by one daughter, Kelli Lynn (Jane McCaslin) Draper, of Rock Falls; one son, Thomas Merrill (Theresa) Draper, of Amboy; one daughter-in-law, Sandra Dewey Draper (wife of Michael Draper, deceased), of Amboy; four grandchildren, Jonathan Draper, Mathew (Katie) Draper, Nathan Draper and Lydia Draper; one great-grandchild, Curtis Michael Draper; two sisters, Glenda (Donald) Brandenburg, of Gold Canyon, Ariz., Grace Piper, of Chandler, Ariz.; two brothers, Jerome Conner, of Ohio, Illinois, Ormond Conner, of Princeton; AND numerous nieces and nephews and special friends.

She is preceded in death by parents; her husband; two sons, Michael Draper and Richard in infancy; two brothers, Fergus and Edward (Ted) Conner; one sister, Jeanne Sapp and husband Arthur Sapp; and four sister-in-laws, Sue Parker Conner, Lois Hopkins Conner, Mary Conner and Ann Conner

Condolences may be sent to: www.garlandfuneralhome.com. A memorial has been established to: the Ohio Veterans Memorial, the Lee County 4-H Program and Krieder Services in Dixon.