Joyce June Ross

Joyce June Ross, age 83, of Thomson, IL, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on the night of April 16, 2024. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, April 22, 2024 at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Thomson. Visitation will take place from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., before the service. Burial will follow at Lower York Cemetery, in Thomson.

Joyce was born January 10, 1941, in Elmhurst, IL, the daughter of Roy and Pearl (Jaegar) Goff. She attended Villa Park Elementary and York High School, where she met her future husband, Richard Ross. They began dating when they were 15 years old, marrying on April 29, 1957. The young couple started their family and bought a house in the same neighborhood in Villa Park, where her parents lived. Those years were full of fun family gatherings. In 1974, Rich and Joyce took a leap of faith, moving to Thomson, IL, and purchasing a 10 acre farm.

Life on the farm was challenging, but Joyce never shied away from hard work. She was hands-on anytime she could help Rich. If a job needed done, she’d find a creative way to accomplish it. She even nick-named herself, “Ralph the laborer.” When a task needed completed, Joyce would say, “Ralph will do it,” and she’d get to work!

Joyce held many important titles. She was a loving mother, the “activity director” for her family, and the #1 race fan. She spent many weekends in the grandstands, focused on every lap, as Rich and their sons, Jim and Joe, raced stock cars. As she grew older, she was blessed with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Joyce was certainly the fun grandma; fishing, going to plays, planning trips to the campground, and hosting sleep-overs.

Joyce is survived by her husband of nearly 67 years, Richard; sons, James (Rhonda) Ross, of Savanna, IL and Joseph (Teresa) Ross, of Thomson; daughter, Jean (Kenny) LaShelle, of Thomson; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister; one brother; and life-long best friend, Alice Bezik. Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Pearl, and one sister.