It pains me to admit, but apparently I have passed away. Everyone told me it would happen one day but that's simply not what I wanted to hear or even experience.  Once again I didn't get things the way I wanted but I experienced the best life a person could have.

I, Joyce Seipel, was born on Friday the 13 in March of 1942.  I was the fifth child of Harrison William and Vera (Weaver) Reid. My mom didn't have a middle name but my dad sure gave her one.  The only reason dad gave her a middle name was because my oldest son, Ken couldn't pronounce it correctly.  The name was Ethel but when Ken, who was 2 at the time, would say that name it would come out at "asshole" and my dad would just laugh and laugh.

My mom named me Joyce Ann, thank god for that, because if my grandmothers would have arrived at the hospital sooner my name would have been Mary Margerit.  I spent my childhood in Attica, Kansas.

I hung around my little sister, Peggy, who bossed me around all the time.  My sister was in trouble all the time.  We got a brand new lunch pail and on the first day she hit a kid over the head with it putting a big dent in the pail.  Boy did we get in trouble.  It wasn't until later that I found out that the boy had been saying mean things about me and my sister had come to my defense.  Even up to the day she died she was still coming to my defense, bossing me around and telling me how to run my life.

I graduated from Attica High School in 1960 and 2 days later married, Charles Seipel.  During our time together, we had 4 kids, Kenny (Linda) Seipel, Connie (John) Riley, Mike (Tonya) Seipel and Debbie (Rick) Betz.  We raised our kids in the same house and same school all their lives.  Each one of our kids was a true blessing.  A mom couldn't be more proud.  Each one of them with their own personal accomplishments, as well as the contributions they made to the world to make it a better place to live.  It warms my heart to know that each one of them will be okay now that I am gone.

Being a mom was good, being a grandmother was better, being a great grandma has been the best!  These are my grandkids.  If I get you out of order, sorry, I am old and can't remember shit!  Alicia (Scott) Robertson, Aaron Eells, Matt (Courtney) Seipel, Jason (Brianna) Seipel, Travis (Susannah) Seipel, Trishia (Dylan) Cooper, Treslyn (Greg) Welters, MiKayla Betz, Dwight Seipel and baby, John Michael Seipel.  The same goes for my great grandkids: Anna Robertson, Ben Robertson, Avalon Welters, Davison Seipel, Chase Robertson, Corvo and Teegan Welters (the twins), Avery Seipel, Parker Seipel, Danica Robertson, Emmett Seipel, Annabelle Seipel and Ethan Robertson.  Again, I can only say how proud I am and what a great job my kids did raising their kids.

I guess it's time to tell you about my jobs.  I had plenty of different types of jobs but I have 2 jobs I felt made a difference in someone's life.  My first job was a preschool teacher for special needs children.  I had a special boy, Matt, who I spent the better part of 5 years with.  I felt like I made a difference in his life simply by teaching him the basics of life.  The next job was cooking for the residents at the Norwich Care Center.  I really enjoyed the residents and listening to all their stories.

Now that I am dead, I leave behind boxes, totes, stuff stacked to the ceiling, what I considered my treasures, have now became my kids' crap.  All I have to say is good luck!

I tried to do a lot of things in my life, painting, sewing, quilting, and gardening.  The plants always died.  I tried to be a good mom, a good friend, I could always keep a secret, so no worries, I, really did take all the secrets told to me to the grave.

After retirement I became a couch potato.  I love John Wayne movies and that is exactly what I did, watch John Wayne movies over and over while I listened to Elvis Presley.

I will miss my kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.  I will miss my back porch where I used to sit and watch the world go by.  But it's my time now to go join my parents; my sisters, Phyllis Fleming and Peggy Reid; and brothers, Wayne Reid, Stanley Reid and Larry Reid.  But most of all I will see my grandson, John Michael.  John passed away before he turned one year.  He was a sweet, happy, fun loving baby.  Most of all he gave my son, Mike, the opportunity to be a dad.  I know that was the hardest day of my son and his wife, Tonya's lives, burying their child.

I am sure there are things I should mention, maybe things I shouldn't have.  But I had a good life, many friends, and many jobs.

I had my kids who took excellent care of me during my life, especially when I got sick.  A special thanks to all the guys and gals at Anthony Community Care Center for everything they did for me.  All the Doctors and Nurses who did all they could to extend my life.

I just realized something, I was born in Anthony and I died in Anthony. Wow!  I thought I would go farther than that. Wait a minute, I died in Wichita. See what happens when you get old.  You just can't keep track of yourself.

Graveside service will be held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at Spring Grove Cemetery, west of Anthony, with Pastor Kent Olds officiating.

Visitation and viewing will be held 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony.

Memorials in memory of Joyce may be made to the Joyce Seipel Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of the funeral home.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003, is in charge of arrangements.