Charlotte Joyce “Joyce” Fuller, 89, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, passed from this life on July 26, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, kindness, and devoted service that will continue to inspire all who knew her. Born on March 22, 1937, in Durant, Oklahoma, Joyce was the daughter of James G. and Jennie V. Keeling.
She grew up with strong values, a steady spirit, and a heart that learned early how to care deeply for others. Those who knew her best would describe her as faith-filled, gentle, and passionate, and those words reflect the way she lived every chapter of her life. She carried herself with grace, and she met both joy and hardship with a quiet strength that encouraged everyone around her. She married the love of her life, Billy R. Fuller, on December 19, 1955, in Caddo, Oklahoma. They celebrated almost 63 years of marriage before his passing in November 2018.
Joyce’s caring spirit touched the lives of many. She was known for faithfully visiting nursing home residents, brightening their days with her compassion and friendship. She loved cooking and gathering her family together during the holidays, making every occasion feel special. Her greatest joy was spending time with those she cherished most. A devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, she treasured her three children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and the close relationships she shared with her eight brothers and sisters.
Joyce dedicated her life to education as a schoolteacher, serving students in Roswell, New Mexico, Richardson, Texas, Gallup, New Mexico, Bokchito, Oklahoma, Blue, Oklahoma, and Durant, Oklahoma. Her work was never just a job. It was a calling. She believed in the power of learning, the importance of encouragement, and the lasting impact a caring teacher can have on a child’s future. Through her years in the classroom, she shaped minds, lifted spirits, and helped countless students believe in themselves. Her influence reached far beyond lesson plans and school walls, because she taught with patience, purpose, and love. She also valued lifelong learning and earned a master’s degree, a reflection of her commitment to growth and excellence. Joyce was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, where she stood among fellow educators who shared her respect for teaching and her dedication to making a difference. Her professional life was marked by integrity and devotion, and her example remains a powerful reminder that service, when done with heart, becomes a lasting gift.
Faith was the foundation of Joyce’s life. She was a Christian and a member of Calvary Baptist Church, where her presence was a blessing and her faith was evident in the way she treated others. She lived with a spirit of humility and hope, trusting God through every season. Her life was a testimony to perseverance, compassion, and the kind of strength that comes from walking closely with the Lord. She did not simply speak of faith. She embodied it. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Billy R. Fuller; her son-in-law, David Polk; her parents, James G. and Jennie V. Keeling; and her brothers, Bob Keeling, Roy Keeling, and Don Keeling. Though these losses were deeply felt, she carried her family’s memory with love and honor, and she remained a source of comfort and stability for those around her.
She is survived by her children, Jill Polk of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Kay Piatt and her husband Greg of Ardmore, Oklahoma, and Jon Fuller and his wife Jeanne of Norman, Oklahoma. She also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Matt and Emilie Polk, Kaitlin and Joe Rausch, Maddie and Weston Foote, Jackie and Tyler Barnett, Lillie and Joel Tetmeyer, Travis Piatt, Corbin and Haley Piatt, and Kirsten Piatt. Her great-grandchildren, Davy and Georgia Polk, Sebastian and Stiorra Jarvis, Sophia Foote, and David Rausch, were a special joy in her life. She is also survived by her sisters, Carol Masters of Durant, Oklahoma, and Gayla and her husband Ray Dickson of Boswell, Oklahoma; her brothers, Ken and his wife Leigh Keeling of Durant, Oklahoma, Bill Keeling of DeRidder, Louisiana, and Jerry Keeling and his wife Linda of Sherman, Texas; her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Keeling of Tooele, Utah, and Deloris Metcalf of Wright City, Oklahoma; and a loving extended family who will carry her memory forward.
amily hour will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Calvary Baptist Church in Durant, Oklahoma. Funeral service will immediately follow at 11 a.m. with Bro. Darel Bunch officiating.
Family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff in the Memory Care Unit of The Lodge at Ardmore Village and the staff of Cross Timbers Hospice for their loving compassion and care for their mother.
Services are under the direction of Holmes-Coffey-Murray Funeral Home.
www.holmescoffeymurray.com