Joyce Small born January 30, 1938 in Watseka, IL to Oliver and Florence (Garfield) Johnson went home to the Lord on June 11, 2017 at St Francis Hospital in Litchfield IL. Joyce attended elementary and high school in Sheldon, Illinois graduating from Sheldon High School in 1956. She then attended and completed training at Business College in Kankakee.

Upon completion of Business College, she was employed at Kankakee Savings. In 1959 she married Gordon Rhoades the later divorced. The children of that marriage include the following survivors; Steve Rhoades (wife Lori) of Watseka, grandchildren Stephanie Evens (Husband Eric) of Paxton and Neil Rhoades of Watseka; Jeff Rhoades (Companion Rochelle McFarland) of Hawaii. Also surviving is a brother Charles Johnson (Wife Zoe) of Westminster, SC. In November of 1995 she married Richard Small of Hillsboro, who survives. Also surviving are stepchildren Lissa Small of Normal Il; Richard Mark Small (Wife Jamie) of Mackinaw IL, Step grandchildren Christopher Small of Deer Creek IL, Bruce Wieshmantel of Minneapolis MN; Douglas Small (Wife Amanda) of O’Fallen MO, and Taylor Andrews (Husband Michael) of Deer Creek IL and Step great grandchildren Chloe, Camryn and Ansily Small of Deer creek IL., and numerous cousins and their respective families. Her parents preceded her in death.

After working at Kankakee Savings and getting married, Joyce spent much of her time as a homemaker, doing some baby-sitting for some young children, sewing many of her own cloths as a result of doing well in home economics in high school. As the boys advanced in school, she got involved in various community and church projects, served on the County Home extension Board, and taught Sunday school classes. She began working at Iroquois Federal Savings and Loan in 1973, serving as head teller and savings officer, until retirement in July of 1997. She and Richard moved to Hillsboro, IL in 1997, where they still reside. Again, Joyce was active in her church and the community. She continued her service on the Home Extension Service board for a few years. In the years when she was raising a family and working at the savings and Loan, she frequently entered both sewing and baking contest at the county fair, where she frequently won blue ribbons. As a member of the United Methodist church she served on several committees, organized the church wide thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, organized the first church bazar, all of which still continues, and served as treasurer for the Hillsboro Ministerial Association since 2005.

In 1993-1994 she was trained and worked as Stephen Ministry (specializing in a one on one care giving ministry) leader while a member of the Watseka United Methodist Church. In her spare time in recent years she greatly enjoyed doing scrap-booking-creating special books for her and Richard’s wedding, as well as special books for the grandchildren and step-grandchildren. She probably best known for her every present smile.

She has respectfully requested the any memorials be given to the Hillsboro United Methodist church for the Diane Bigley pre-school fund, MCCA, or the St. Francis Hospital Foundation.

Funeral service will be Friday at 1:00 PM at Hough & Sons Funeral Home in Hillsboro, visitation will begin at 11:00 until service time. A gravesite service will be Saturday June 17th at 11:30 AM  at the Sheldon, Il Cemetery. Hough & Sons Funeral Home in Hillsboro is in charge of arrangements.

 Service Information