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Joyce Marie (Eiffert) Sutton, 94, of Blair, died peacefully Dec. 20, 2013, at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Community in Blair.

At her request, she was cremated. A memorial service will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at First Baptist Church in Omaha, 421 Park Ave., with lunch following. Those attending are asked to enter at the east parking lot.

Joyce Marie Eiffert was born Dec. 8, 1919, in the Baptist parsonage at Larned, Kan. to Boyd and Urseal Eiffert.

Following her parents' divorce when she was four years old, her mother married Irvin Cleveland, who raised her and her brother, Jack, as his own.

Upon graduation from Larned High School, she received a scholarship from the PEO to attend the Lamont Conservatory of Music (operatic voice) in Denver, Colo.

She met her future husband, Chester Neil Sutton, a U.S. Army counterintelligence officer, at Elitch Gardens. They were married Sept. 29, 1943, at the First Baptist Church in Denver.

A lifelong Christian, she was devoted to her Lord, family and country.

Her accomplishments were many. She sang the role of Gertie in the Omaha Opera Company's production of "Oklahoma!"

She served on the ordination committee for American Baptist Churches of Nebraska, served as president of the Democratic Women of Nebraska, was chairwoman of the Washington County Bicentennial Committee and made numerous speeches at the request of the Carter Administration supporting the return of ownership of the Panama Canal to the Panamanian people. She was present in the White House Rose Garden when the documents were signed.

Mrs. Sutton counted among her memberships the Daughters of the American Revolution, the National Rifle Association and more than 50 years in the P.E.O.

Her home was filled with political discussions and her singing and piano playing. She was active and competitive her entire life. A few of her activities included baseball (a switch hitter), go-cart racing (lost lead spinning out on last lap both times) and her beloved horseback riding.

She had fought a prolonged battle with Alzheimer's Disease. The family would like to thank Pam and friends at Monarch Villa, Papillion; and the diligent and loving staff at Good Shepherd, especially her guardian angel, Cindy, for their exceptional care and concern.

She is survived by her brother, Jack Eiffert of Springfield, Mo.; sons: Chester Neil III and John (Carilee) of Omaha; daughters: Jennifer Crozier (Steve) of Oceanside, Calif., and Belinda Chavez (Dennis) of Los Lunas, N.M.; grandchildren: Maurice and Aaron Chavez of New Mexico, Jane Crozier of Hawaii, Ben Crozier of California, Emma Sutton of Nebraska, Chris Jacobsen of Nebraska and Ryan Jacobsen of Kansas; several cousins, nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, the Hon. Chester Neil Sutton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Good Shepherd Lutheran Community, 2242 Wright St, Blair, NE 68008.

Published in Omaha World-Herald on Feb. 16, 2014

Sutton, Joyce Marie (Eiffert)

MEMORIAL SERVICE 2:30pm Saturday, February 22, First Baptist Church, 421 Park Avenue, Omaha, NE. In lieu of flowers, Memorials to Good Shepherd Home, 2242 Wright St., Blair, NE 68008.

Another obituary: Printed in the Jan 5, 2014 World-Herald, Omaha, Nebraska

Note: Portrait in both the World-Herald and also the Blair paper

Sutton, Joyce Marie (Eiffert)

Age 94 - Dec. 20, 2013

Blair, NE. Pre-deceased by husband, the Hon. Chester Neil Sutton. Survived by brother, Jack Eiffert; sons Chester, and John (Carilee); daughters: Jennifer Crozier (Steve), and Belinda Chavez (Dennis); cousins; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews. In lieu of flowers, Memorials to Good Shepherd Home, 2242 Wright St., Blair, NE 68008. Memorial service to be announced later in this paper.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

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