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, Okla. to Ludy Leek and Iva Lee (Swaney) Neighbours. She graduated from Sparks High School in 1952 at the age of 16.

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. Her family loved her homemade chicken & noodles and cream pies. She was an excellent cook, seamstress and 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. 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 bookkeeper and office manager for Prague Ready Mix. In 1980, Harold retired and the couple moved to Lake Eufaula. Joyce worked 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 at C&A Cleaners and then did other jobs to help people. She had a nurturing nature and loved taking care of others.

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 greatgrandchildren, 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.

A graveside service was held at White Dove Cemetery in Sparks on Tuesday, Oct. 13 under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service.