Joyce Carney

Joyce Ann Miller Carney, 85, of Brevard, joined her Lord late Thursday after a brief stay at Mission Hospital on June 24, 2021.  She was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and grew up in Johnston, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Leah Jasper Miller, and brothers Keith and Larry Miller.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Richard; three daughters: Lynda Crum, Cathy Benn (Randy) and Anita Parker: and seven grandchildren:, Jason Benn, twins Daniel Benn (Shelby) and Melissa Benn (Burke), Jon Crum (Maguire), Caroline Crum, Allison Parker, and Sarah Parker, plus a younger brother Earl Miller (Linda).

Joyce attended McPherson College (KS) and married Richard as he entered graduate school at Iowa State University.  She completed her senior year at Iowa State to finish her BA at McPherson College with a major in Psychology and Elementary Education. She taught at Garton Elementary School in Des Moines the following year.  She loved her students and teaching but paused to spend full time with her three daughters until her youngest entered third grade.  She re-entered her teaching career following the graduation of her husband from Iowa State and a brief move to Bloomington, IN, and then to Murray Hill/New Providence, NJ, where her husband joined the Research Department at CIBA Pharmaceutical Company.

Joyce returned to her joy of teaching in the Summit, NJ, school system where she gained tenure, completed both her Masters and all the course requirements for a EdD Degree from Kean University, Union, NJ. She retired after 25 years in 2000 as a member of the Franklin Elementary School in Summit, NJ.  She enjoyed her students and her co-teachers and had many fond memories of those years.

On moving to Brevard in 2004, Joyce became active in the Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church in Children Christian Education teaching and the Women’s Bible Circles and later was elected Elder and member of Session.  She was invited and elected as a member of The P.E.O. where she participated in fund raising activities to help as sponsors of the Teddy Soule Educational Scholarships for women that for one reason or another wanted to complete their higher degree and did so with the help of these scholarships.  Joyce loved to read and at one time belonged to two different Book Clubs.  She always enjoyed the book discussions but also the friendly interaction with the members of the clubs.  Joyce always looked forward to the yearly Brevard Music Center activities.

A celebration of her life/memorial service will be held at the Brevard-Davidson River Presbyterian Church at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 31, 2021.  The Rev. Dr. Keith Thompson, Senior Pastor, BDRPC will preside, and The Rev. Dr. Thomas Lewis, Retired Presbyterian Pastor, former Director of the Spirituality Program at Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, currently serving as Senior Consultant at the Center for Spiritual Wisdom will officiate.

Memorials made to The P.E.O. Teddy Soule Scholarship Fund (Chapter BT-NC, 3700 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312) or the Brevard Music Center Student Scholarships Program (P.O. Box 312, Brevard, NC 28712) would be welcomed.