Joyce Ann Ashley, 82 of Vernon, Tx, died at her residence on Sunday, July 20, 2025.

Joyce was born April 5, 1943, in Glasgow Ky, to Smith Killebrew and Mary Louise Stokes Killebrew. The Killebrew family moved to Vernon in 1949 from Newton, Mississippi when Joyce was a young child as her father took a job as foreman in the clothing factory. Joyce graduated from Vernon High School in 1961.

She married Charles Ashley in April, 1974. She was the Family Life Editor of the Vernon Record for more than 50 years, including a two-year stint in the 1960s, and then from 1974 until retiring in 2024. She also served a two-year-stint as managing editor before semi-retiring. She loved her job and the people she met. She had a special care in writing the obituaries for thousands of her fellow Vernonites.

Joyce's love for Vernon and its people came out in the stories she wrote. She was most proud of writing the story of Peggy Harris, and her missing WWII husband. The story eventually made national news and was featured on the CBS Evening News. She was also a frequent contributor, through a pen name, for Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Joyce's dedication and ethics led her to being recognized as Vernon's Citizen of the Year in 2005, and she received special recognition as the Doan's Picnic Honoree in 2023. Her work held the Vernon Record to being named the best daily newspaper in Texas in 2017, and best weekly in Texas in 2023 and 2024.

She loved her church, and her church family. She was a faithful member of Vernon's First Methodist Church, donating her time and money to supporting its ministry. She was instrumental in founding the church's first praise service, the first in the area, more than two decades ago.

She is survived by her husband Charles of the home; two sons Chris Ashley and wife Joelee of Vernon; Shawn Ashley of Norman, Okla; one daughter Julie Howell and husband Paul of Lucas; six grandchildren Elizabeth, William, Adam, Nathan, Devin, and Kelsey; a sister Mary Jane Tatum and husband Jack of Wimberly, Tx.

A memorial service was held Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Vernon's First Methodist Church under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home with Rev. Anthony Inman officiating.

Memorials may be made to the First Methodist Church of Vernon.