Joyce S Dantes May 16, 1949 - May 2, 2023

Joyce Sharron (Bailey) Dantes was born May 16, 1949, in Roscoe, Mo. She was the fourth child of Ruth Violet Hood and Henry Arthur Bailey. Raised by Thomas Reynolds, whom she called “daddy”.

Preceded in death by all three parents, older sisters: Mary Alice Hammond, Patricia Ann Bailey, and Jo Burrow, younger brother Tony Reynolds and nephews Jeff Hammond, and David Hawkins.

A “tomboy” in her youth and could go toe-to-toe with boys in baseball. In her adult life she worked what was considered a “mans job” in the grocery business and did just as well, if not better than most.

She was salutatorian at Osceola High School in 1967. Selected as “future teacher of America” and she won the Civic Oration contest in 1963.
Joyce moved to California in 1969 and was one of the first female “box boys” at Gemco, a grocery chain. She would continue in the grocery business for 35 years until retirement in 2008.

She met her husband, Ed Dantes at Gemco in 1977. Later would marry in June 1980 at Lake Tahoe, CA. To this union, two daughters were born: Norene and Laura.

The family lived in Pomona until 2013, when she and Ed moved out to Osceola, MO.

She was an avid volunteer for both her daughters school programs, sat on the school’s PTA board, helped with countless fundraisers, sports teams, choir and theater.

Joyce was the librarian at Calvary Baptist Schools in La Verne, CA from 2008-2013. She also drove for sports teams for them from 2003-2008. Because of her unconditional support to the Athletic Department at Calvary Baptist School, Joyce was presented with the “Booster Extraordinaire” by Foothill Citrus Athletic Directors Association.

She always donated blood to the Red Cross, she donated to countless charities, some of which were ASPCA, Inland Valley Humane Society, VFW, Wounded Warriors, Boys Town Nebraska and Omaha Home for boys to name a few.

An avid animal lover, she cared for countless kitty cats, dogs, chickens, fish and even a duck in southern California. She loved to feed all the critters in her back yard in Osceola. A bird lover and birdwatcher, she could easily name them all.

Joyce loved to read and do jigsaw puzzles, something she shared with all her sisters. She was a NASCAR fanatic, particularly Rusty Wallace, she attended many races and Rusty Wallace cruises.

She enjoyed country music and Elvis Presley; she was able to attend many country music performances and even Elvis Presley once.

A big travel enthusiast, Joyce took her daughters, sisters, nieces, and nephews all around California, and nearby states to everything they possibly could. They enjoyed regular trips down to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and cruised many Caribbean Islands.

Joyce was a beautiful writer and had an uncanny knack for writing poems. She wrote dozens upon dozens of poems during her lifetime for the Rusty Wallace fan club, her friends, family, daughters, husband, for holidays and for churches she attended. Ed and Joyce regularly worshipped at the Vista United Methodist Church and Church of God (Holiness) in Lowry City.

She loved nature and being outside, as well as going on walks and hikes with her husband.

Joyce leaves behind her husband of almost 43 years, Edmund Dantes of Osceola, MO.

Daughters Norene Dantes and Laura Dantes Navarrete of Pomona, CA, step-daughter Tricia Dantes of Long Beach, CA, sisters: Pam Dutcher of Roscoe, MO, Eleanor Masten, nephews: Brandon Burrow of Riverside, CA, Steve Hawkins, Craig Hawkins, and Jared Dutcher, nieces: Angela Hawkins Haywood of McAlester, OK, Daleen Todd, Jeanie Helm, Ernie Offield, Jennifer Dutcher, Jessica Dutcher, Keisha Reynolds, Melanie Reynolds, countless other nieces and nephews, three kitty cats, and ten grand-kitty cats, as well as many friends.