Joyce Darlene (Ross) Godfrey

Long time Seminole resident Joyce Darlene (Ross/ Wheeler) Godfrey passed away to join the Lord. She was born in Slick, Oklahoma and died at home in Gladstone, Missouri on Feb. 23, 2022 at 12:26 pm. Funeral services will be held at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. with Nita Moreland will be officiating. Joyce will be laid to rest at Little Cemetery at Little, Oklahoma in Seminole County. Joyce was born on August 21, 1945 to Desmond and Thelma Lee Ross. She married Jimmy Darrell Wheeler Sr. in Hobbs, New Mexico on June 14, 1960, where she had 4 beautiful children; Cindy Pauline Kelough, Viola Kay Lauderdale, Bobbie Jo Stanberry, Jimmy Darrell Wheeler Jr. Joyce was a stay-at-home homemaker, wife, and bar manager in Seminole.

Joyce will be forever missed by her children who loved their mother fiercely and unconditionally. Then, she fell in love with Alan J. Godfrey and married him on August 21, 2016.  Joyce is survived by her husband Alan in their home in Gladstone, Missouri. She will be missed dearly by Alan.

She is preceded in death by Jimmy Wheeler Sr., her parents, Desmond and Thelma Ross, Jimmy Wheeler Sr.; sisters, Carolyn Sue Houck and Merion Kay Stewart; brother, Bruce Ross; daughter, Viola Kay Lauderdale; son-in-law, Michael Allen Stanberry; granddaughter,  Tiffani Darlene Rowe; grandson, Jerry Allen Wheeler and 2 great granddaughters, Angel and Lily Kelough.

She is survived by her husband Allen J. Godfrey of Gladstone, Missouri; Sherry and Jerry Godfrey, mother-in-law and father-in-law in Missouri; 2 daughters, Cindy Pauline Wheeler of Oklahoma City Oklahoma and husband Earnest Kelough and Bobbie Jo Stanbury; Jimmy Darrell Wheeler Jr. and wife Cindy Lou of Wellington, Kansas; son-in-law James “Hippie” Lauderdale; 4 grandsons, Bryan and Megan Rower, Kolt and Anna Kelough, Brandon Wheeler, Mike Lauderdale; granddaughters, Keena Diane Loftis, Nathan Loftis of Altus, Oklahoma, Heaven Kelough of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma., Mariah Knowles of Holdenville, Oklahoma, Alyssa and Keith Aldridge of Wellington, Kansas, and Jennifer Lauderdale of Seminole, Oklahoma.; 19 great grandchildren and one on the way; 2 great great granddaughters; 4 sisters, Barbara Orr of Butner, OK, Joan Morris of Seminole, Oklahoma. Patricia Carter of Seminole, OK, Janis Ross of Earlsboro, OK.

Joyce requested for everyone to wear Football Jerseys to Funeral (Pro, College, High School will do). Thank you.

Sincerely,

Joyce’s Family