Joyce Marie Dillingham

Joyce Marie Lawson Dillingham, lovingly known as "Mogger," passed away peacefully to the arms of her Lord on January 16, 2021, at the Fort Gibson Nursing Home with her daughters at her side. In Vivian, OK, she was born March 13, 1934, to Charlie and Fida (Pollard) Lawson. She married James W. Dillingham on May 14, 1957, who preceded her in death on August 28, 1990. James, better known as Jim, was in the U.S. Airforce. Joyce was a homemaker. She raised two daughters Janet and Janean, by herself for months while Jim served overseas. Janet was born at the Vance Air Force Base Hospital in Enid, OK, in 1960. Janean was born at the Fort Bragg Air Force Base Hospital in North Carolina in 1964. They moved back to OK in 1967, where they raised their girls in Muskogee and remained until Jim passed. Joyce lived alone in the family home until her health declined. She moved to Fort Gibson to live with Janet and Leon in 2015. Joyce and her cat, JoJo, lived there for three years. The dementia she struggled with became so advanced, it required her to move to the Fort Gibson Nursing Home for the two remaining years of her life. Joyce was a member of the Central Church of Christ in Muskogee and took her daughters regularly to Bible class. She gave them the greatest gift a mother can give by telling them about Jesus. Joyce took them to Vacation Bible School and encouraged them to be active. After Janet married and had children, Joyce began attending East Side Church of Christ with them. She taught her daughters by example, how to keep a home and how to serve the elderly. Joyce enjoyed cooking for, delivering food, and running errands for the elderly, always taking her girls with her. She enjoyed sewing, and making her daughters' clothing. She made many quilts and enjoyed giving them away. Gift giving was her love language. Joyce enjoyed traveling from town to town with Jim on his job as a vendor mechanic for Love Bottling Company, after he retired from the Air Force. They always looked forward to watching the Dallas Cowboys together. Jim, Joyce, and the girls spent many weekends fishing with Joyce's sister Pauline and family. They had three grandchildren before Jim passed, Justin, Jenna, and Kelly. When they came along, their lives drastically changed. They had never known such love, and they devoted their time to finding excuses to spend time with their grandchildren. Marissa and Jamie were born after Jim was gone, but were just as loved. After Jim's death, Joyce passed the time reading her Bible faithfully and watching T.V. and VHS movies. Her favorite show was MASH. She had to have it playing to go to sleep. She even took her MASH tapes to play on trips to Branson when staying overnight. Joyce loved music. She had many videos, and C.D.s. The Gaither Band, Daniel O'Donnell, and Alan Jackson were her favorite. Her all-time favorite singer was her granddaughter Jenna. She asked Jenna a couple of years ago to record songs to be played at the memorial service that she chose, and Jenna did. Joyce had an extensive collection of movies, which included every Tom Hanks movie ever made. She could talk for hours on the phone and had many phone buddies. Joyce had a green thumb and could grow the tallest of elephant ears and beautiful roses. Her favorite past time was going to Wal-Mart, walking every aisle, looking at every item. Janet was not fond of this particular pastime. Janean, however, was and enjoyed shopping all day with her at Wal-Mart and the mall. The only ones who could stay long enough for her satisfaction at Wal-Mart were Janean, granddaughters, Kelly and Jenna, brother Elbert and sister-in-law Darlene, and her special, friend Paula Fontenot. Jenna holds the all-time longest record for shopping in Wal-Mart with Joyce. The trip lasted five hours, just in Wal-Mart! Joyce always spoke of her desire for all of her loved ones to become Christians and be baptized so they would all be together one day in heaven. When she moved to Fort Gibson, she began attending the Fort Gibson Church of Christ and enjoyed the Caregiver's Day Out and the Ladies Bible Class when her health allowed. Joyce cherished every Soul Sister and G.R.O.W. lady who generously showed her attention and love. She loved being a part of the Adopt-a-Widow program over the years and tried to keep up with the children who adopted her. There are too many church members to name who did kind things for her, stayed with her, took her places, and just loved her. The family appreciates and is grateful to those who brightened her life. Her grandkids were the apple of her eye, each one having a special place in her heart. She plastered her den walls with pictures of the grandkids. When the great-grandkids started being born, the living room walls filled up quickly. Every time the family would get together for holidays, birthdays, or any other made-up occasion, she was excited. She liked nothing better than hugs and kisses from grandkids and great-grandkids. There was always food, fun, laughing, games, and more laughing. The grandkids enjoyed being with Mogger so much during those times. She loved having little surprises for each one when they came to a get-together. Sometimes it was just a bag of pennies, but there was always a gift. The great-grandkids liked to sit close to her, feel her soft skin, brush her hair, and play beauty shop. She was most content surrounded by her family. Joyce often said, the greatest thing she accomplished was she raised one daughter to serve the Church and the other to serve our Country. She enjoyed giving nicknames to the sons-in-law and grandsons-in-law and arguing about sports. The family already misses her. There will never be another Mogger. She is preceded in death by her husband, James W. Dillingham; her parents; and five of her siblings and their spouses, Charlsie & Arch Yandell, Erma Lee Craig, Preston & Ernestine Lawson, Pauline & Vester Frost, Iva Jean & Johnny Spradlin, one son-in-law, Jimmy Arnett Jr; and two nephews, Robert and Jack Frost. She is survived by daughters, Janet and husband Robert "Leon" Strain of Fort Gibson, OK, and Janean and husband Maurice Inge of Mulberry, AR; grandchildren, Justin & Cristin Arnett of Fort Gibson, OK; Jenna & Matt Ray of Portland, OR; Kelly & Dexton Lively of Van Buren, AR; Marissa & Tim Harrison of Mulberry, AR; and Jamie & Jeremy Morris of Van Buren, AR; great grandchildren, Jolee Ray, Ethan Kirkland, Tatum Lively, Kennedy Harrison, Justin "Micheal" Arnett, Jr., Rennley & Ella Turner, Macee & Lillie Morris, and one on the way, Henry Harrison; sister-in-law, Carolyn "C.J." Dillingham of Gladstone, MO; Kevin Johnson, the father of her Arkansas grandchildren; brother, Elbert and wife Darlene Lawson of Muskogee, OK; and a host of nieces, nephews, and many friends. Joyce planned her service ahead of time and chose honorary pallbearers Ronnie Spradlin, Jerry Lawson, Charles Dortch, Mike Fontenot, Curtis Ellis, Kinley Wilson, and Robby Branscum, stating they all went above and beyond for her. In lieu of flowers, Joyce requested memorial donations go to Fort Gibson Church of Christ Care and Concern Ministry or the Fort Gibson Church of Christ Soul Sisters. A special thank you to the Fort Gibson Nursing Home staff, which allowed Joyce to socialize, make friends, participate in the most fun activities, be loved, and laugh. Services are pending at this time. The service will be live-streamed and available for viewing on the Fort Gibson Church of Christ Youtube page. The family of Joyce Marie Lawson Dillingham has entrusted her care, cremation and service to Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home, Fort Gibson. 918-478-2555. Online condolences may be left at clifforddgarrettfamilyfh.com

Joyce Marie Dillingham

March 13, 1934 - January 16, 2021