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Mary Joyce Leonhardt Lail
( October 8, 1940 - November 15, 2022 )
Mary Joyce Leonhardt Lail, known to everyone as Joyce, Mother and Memaw, age 82, passed away embraced by love at her home in Crouse, NC.  She was born on October 8, 1940 to Melvin Stowe Leonhardt and “Ann”, Annie Clyde Taylor Leonhardt of North Brook Community, Crouse, NC.  She was raised with her siblings on their working farm with crops, cattle and a dairy and was born in a cabin on the property.  One of her sisters shared that she recognized how important her farm chores were and often checked on her siblings’ chores. She and her husband first lived in Boger City.  Later, Joyce and husband, Darrell built their home on the original farm land and she lived the rest of her life near her home place in Crouse.  She married Eugene Darrell Lail of Cherryville, NC on August 3rd, 1958, Bess Chapel UMC after meeting at an engagement gathering for Darrell’s brother and Joyce’s sister. They were married for 63 years just short of their 64th anniversary upon Darrell’s passing. Together Joyce and husband, Darrell, enjoyed spending time with their daughter, Sheila, her husband, Tim and their four granddaughters. She loved all children and always had an interest in her extended family, both the Lail and Leonhardt families. She came to all her daughter Sheila’s dance, band, and majorette events, and mother daughter banquets. She was a secretary of West Lincoln Band Boosters.

Joyce graduated from the North Brook High School class of 1958.  She played softball, basketball assistant manager, Beta Club, drama club, parts in Junior and her commencement play, reporter for FHA, annual staff and prom and parade. Attended Gaston College studying computer fundamentals.

Joyce was an excellent seamstress and made clothes for herself and her daughter, Sheila in younger years. She loved to make cloth purses and costumes for her granddaughters. Joyce had a strong work ethic, enjoyed her coworkers and continued her career in the textile and furniture industries. Among some of her workplaces included Bike Athletic, where she was nominated Textile Employee of the Year and Bradington-Young as a seamstress and quality control. She was an excellent cook and took meals to many.  She made the best cakes and Christmas cookies. She was a past active member of the Pilot Club and enjoyed making her fried apple pies for fundraising at the Apple Festival.

Joyce was proud of her family. She called her four granddaughters “her Girls” and loved being their Memaw. She displayed great interest in their education, dance recitals, plays, graduations and beach trips. She loved teaching them about the farm, and her beautiful flower and vegetable garden that she and Darrell cultivated. She would gently pick up a butterfly, let it go and the girls were amazed! She was a Breast Cancer survivor, and in her sixties developed early onset Alzheimer’s. She gave big hugs and had a beautiful smile. She was cared for at home by her husband, daughter, many wonderful caregivers including Jenny Osborne, Trish Strickland, and most recently, Debra Hyler, Samantha Soles, and June Helms, who helped with scheduling and more. All loved Miss Joyce and were like family to us all.

She was a devoted Christian, read her Bible, long-time member of Boger City UMC where she taught children’s Sunday school. She visited Cherryville Second Baptist Church to hear sermons of her brother-in-law, Rev. Jerry Lail and wife, Rita.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Darrell, her parents and sisters, Jane Carswell and Doris Lail. She is survived by her daughter, Sheila Starnes, and husband, Tim of Huntersville, NC, her granddaughters, Anna Welham and husband, Tom and new great grandson, Albert “Bertie” Fox Welham of Bury St. Edmunds, England, Carley Starnes of Charlotte, NC, Mara Monti and husband, Will, of Mooresville, NC, and Emma Starnes, of Huntersville, NC and NCSU. She is also survived by her sister, Lib Carroll, and brother, Bill Leonhardt and wife, Karen.

The family will receive friends on this Saturday, December 10, 2022 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm in the sanctuary of Boger City United Methodist Church, 2320 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092. Directly following the receiving of friends, the memorial service will be held at 12:00 noon Boger City United Methodist Church with Pastor Ronnie Roseboro officiating. Following the memorial service, immediate and extended family are invited to the burial at Bess Chapel United Methodist Church, 6073 Flay Road, Cherryville, NC  28021.

Memorials may to be made to Boger City United Methodist Church, 2320 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC  28092, or to Bess Chapel United Methodist Church, Cemetery Fund, 6073 Flay Road, Cherryville, NC  28021.

Posted on 06 Dec 2022


 

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