Joyce Ann Akery, age 79, of Dixon, was born on May 11, 1943, a daughter of Willard and Virginia (Rowe) Baker and departed this life at 11:27 p.m., Thursday evening, December 15, 2022 in the Phelps Health Hospital, Rolla, MO.

Mrs. Akery was united in marriage on June 28, 1961, at Dixon to James Melvin Akery and to this union, one daughter was born. She was preceded in death by her husband, James on October 6, 1993; her parents, Willard and Virginia; an infant twin brother and sister and sister, Janet Ray.

Mrs. Akery was baptized by Charlie Martin in 1958, at the Fox Crossing Church. She was a loving and devoted housewife and homemaker. Joyce was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4238 Women's Auxiliary, Dixon and enjoyed listening to country music, caring for her animals, but most of all she cherished time spent with her family.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mrs. Akery include: her daughter and son-in-law, Brenda and Clinton Hodges, Salem; her granddaughters and their spouses, Rebecca and Charles Robnett, Salem and Sarah and Will Loughridge, Rolla; four great-grandchildren, Tyler, Austin, Logan and Liam; her siblings, Jerry Baker, Dixon; Dean (Nancy) Baker; Ronnie (Lori) Baker; Doug (Linda) Baker; Keith (Lisa) Baker and Debbie Barnett, all of Iberia; a brother-in-law, Wayne Ray, Hancock; nephews; nieces; and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until service time at 11:30 a.m. all on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 in the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Chapel, Dixon, with Pastor Danny Bassett, Burnett Church officiating.

Interment will be in the Dixon Cemetery under the direction of the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Dixon. Pallbearers are Austin Robnett, Tyler Robnett, Charles Robnett, Will Loughridge, Hunter Newkirk and Mike Pendergraft. Honorary pallbearers are Liam and Logan Loughridge.

Memorial contributions are suggested per the wishes of the family with envelopes available at the Long-Kloeppel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Dixon.