Obituary of Joye Larson King

Joye Larson King, 82, passed away on April 10, 2017 at the Wilton Meadows Rehabilitation Center in Wilton Connecticut. Joye was born and raised on a farm near Green, Kansas. Her elementary and middle school education all occurred in the same one- room schoolhouse near the farm. Joye then jumped into adulthood quickly, as she and her cousin lived in a rented apartment in Clay Center, Kansas in order to attend high school and to avoid daily chores on the farm. She knew early on that farming wasn't in her future. After high school, Joye attended Kansas State University, where she met many lifelong friends as well as her future husband. She graduated with honors with a degree in education, and married Rannells King in 1956. After teaching for a year in Denver, Joye and Rannells moved to Overland Park, Kansas, and then Waterville, Ohio. Eventually, the Kings ended up in Westbrook, Connecticut, where they planted roots in 1964. In 1971, Joye returned to teaching as a teacher's aide at the Westbrook Elementary School. She loved her work and touched the lives of many of her students. She was equally touched by them and always had good stories to tell about her school days. She retired from teaching in 1999. Throughout her years in Westbrook she was an active member of the local Congregational Church where she was a fixture in the church choir. Most importantly, at least to her sons, she was a great mother and good cook. In 2005, Joye was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and has spent her last 12 years struggling with the disease. Despite her difficult circumstances during this time with the disease, Joye was always sweet and affectionate while imparting her last life lesson that "growing old isn't for sissies". Joye is survived by her brother Jon Larson of Green, Kansas, her sons, Jeff and his wife Linda of North Andover, MA, and son, Greg of Wailuku, HI, and numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives spread out across the country. A Celebration of Life Service for Joye will be held on Saturday May 20th at 1:00 PM. at the First Congregational Church of Westbrook, 1166 Boston Post Road in Westbrook. Burial will follow in the Cypress Cemetery in Westbrook. In lieu of flowers donations may be made "in memory of Joye King" to the Alzheimer's Association, 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. To share a memory of Joye or send a condolence to her family please visit www.rwwfh.com Arrangements by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.