Iva Joyce Leister

Iva Joyce Leister Prague resident Iva Joyce Leister passed away Friday, October 9, 2020, at the age of 85. She was born July 19,1935, in Sparks, Oklahoma to Ludy Leek and Iva Lee (Swaney) Neighbours. She graduated from Sparks High School in 1952 at the age of 16. Joyce completed two grades of high school in one year. She married Harold Lloyd Leister on July 2, 1953, at Bro. Davis's farmhouse between Prague and Meeker. She loved telling the story of how the preacher married them wearing his striped overalls. Joyce and Harold were happily married 34 years until his death in 1987. Joyce was known throughout the family for organizing and hosting family reunions each year. She made sure everyone had a great time and had plenty to eat. Her family loved her homemade chicken & noodles and her cream pies. She was an excellent cook, seamstress and she always had a huge vegetable garden. She loved going to the lake, fishing and riding her motorcycle. Joyce was first and foremost a housewife and mom. But she took great pride in each job she had outside the home and would do the work as if it was her own business. One of her first jobs was with Sylvania Electric Company in Shawnee. She kept the books for her husband's concrete business, Leister Concrete, for 20 years and at the same time was also bookkeeper and office manager for Prague Ready Mix. In 1980, Harold retired and the couple moved to Lake Eufaula, but Joyce continued working part time at a small grocery store at the lake and rode shotgun for Harold in their dump truck. She left the lake after Harold's death and moved back to Prague in 1990 where she worked several years at C&A Cleaners and then did other jobs to help people. She had a nurturing nature and loved taking care of others. One of Joyce’s favorite past times was to attend the Midlothian live music on Friday nights. She would go with some of her closest friends and enjoy live music and spending time with her friends. She would, on most occasions, run the sound system and also the kitchen. Joyce loved the Lord and attended church regularly. She was known for always loading up the church kids for some fun activity or was hosting parties for them to attend. She always said, "I love people". She loved to visit and tell her stories. But most of all, she loved and was so proud of her family. She will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold; sister, Avis Sloan; two brothers, James Neighbours and Dale Neighbours; and grandson, John Hogue. Survivors include her son, Ronald Leister and wife Carol of Tecumseh; daughter, Sharon Lee and husband Andrew of Prague; grandchildren, Brandon Hogue, Miranda Berry, Jeremy Hogue, Kelli Johnson and husband Bill Cody, Cody Leister, Levi Lee and wife Sierra, AnnDee Lee Carter and husband Dwayne; and great-grandchildren, Caden Standlee, Jaycee Johnson, Lillie Johnson, Lanee Hogue, Braiden Hembree, Allie Hembree, Eli Johnson, Jaicye Carter, Easton Lee, Jaxsen Carter, Avery Lee; other family members and friends. Joyce's service will be officiated by pastor Kevin Wehrli and Pastor Starland Davis Jr. Visitation was Monday, October 12, 2020, and the morning of Tuesday, October 13. Graveside service was at White Dove Cemetery, Sparks, Oklahoma on Tuesday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m. Service was under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service.