Joyce Annunciata Davis Smith passed away December 19, 2024, in Kansas City Missouri. In many ways she was a real pioneer. She was born in Pocatello, Idaho on July 15, 1931, to George Tobias Davis and Lucille Beatrice Haynes Davis.
After graduating from Idaho State University, she accepted a graduate assistantship at Kansas State University in Manhattan Kansas where she met William C. “Bill” Smith whom she married on June 24, 1954. In 1955 she and Bill received their master’s degrees and had their first daughter.
Joyce was an instructor at the University of Kansas for four years; after moving to Johnson County Kansas taught for 5 years at Shawnee Mission West High School, before starting work on her PhD at UMKC.
While teaching at Kansas State University and at the University of Kansas she was the first woman at each institution to be allowed to teach while pregnant. After obtaining her PhD in counselor education at UMKC in 1972 she taught for one semester at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Missouri before embarking on a 20-year career in administration at the newly co-ed Rockhurst College (now Rockhurst University). She had many different positions including Assistant Academic Dean, Associate Academic Dean, Interim Dean of the School of Management, Dean of Summer and Continuing Education and
Director of Institutional Research. In 1973 she was elected to the Board of Trustees of Johnson County Community College and served for several years during these formative years for JCCC.
Joyce loved adventure, especially white-water rafting and new (and spicy) foods. She rafted most of the white waters in Southern Missouri and Northern Arkansas. She twice took weeklong trips down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon and rafted the Salmon River and Middle
Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, many times. She was an accomplished cook and bridge player. She loved meeting up with her brothers and sisters and organized family reunions and many, many visits among the family.
She and Bill enjoyed traveling all over the United States, Canada, and Mexico and their travels to Norway, France, Germany, and Ireland.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents, and her nine brothers and sisters. She is survived by daughters Stephanie M. Smith of Prairie Village, Kansas, and Cheryl Irene Smith (Stephen Cox) of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and son Lawrence William Smith of Haltom
City, Texas as well as her grandchildren Isaiah Smith Andrews (Lukasz Kowalik) of Boston, Massachusetts, Alexander Lawrence Smith (Ceren Smith) of Allen, Texas, and Nicole Bowman Smith Saunders (Jax Saunders) of Lewisville, Texas, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Many thanks to Kingswood Senior Living for their care over the years and to CatholicCommunity Hospice. Donations may be made in Joyce’s honor to the Kingswood Foundation or to Catholic Community Hospice.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 27, 2024, at St. Ann Catholic Church, 7231 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS. The rosary will be prayed at 9:30, followed by the Mass at 10:00. Assistance by Funeral Advocates, LLC.
Cheryl, I am so impressed by the many ground-breaking things your mother did and her sense of adventure. She reminds me of my own maternal grandmother from Alabama who loved adventure as well – roller coasters, traveling, etc. And she got her undergrad and grad degrees in English and taught at a local college. I’m wishing you the best as you celebrate and grieve your mother.
Joyce was my Mom’s closest sister growing up. I loved reading this obituary. While I knew of many of her professional accolades I did not realize she was a trail blazer for women’s rights in academia! What an amazing woman she was. I am sad she is gone, but I am sure she is happy to be with Bill and her sisters again.
Kingswood neighbors so sad to lose a dear friend and regret our order for flowers was not filled. Hoping Joyce’s family are feeling our wishes and prayers at this time.