Joyce Fulmer

Joyce Morgan Fulmer, 98, passed away Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the Osage Nursing Center in Osage City.

Joyce Arlene Zettervall was born February 23, 1925 in Brainerd, Minnesota, to John Enock and Pearl Christine (Fisher) Zettervall. At age 5, she was adopted by L. Irvin and Walberg Leontine (Zetterval) Morgan of Wichita, Kansas and was named Joyce Aileen Morgan.

Joyce attended schools in Wichita and graduated from Wichita University with a BME in music education. She moved to Osage City to teach music at Osage City High School.

Joyce married LeRoy William (Hitch) Hitchings on December 28, 1947. Together they had three children, Lance, Debra and Shelly. They divorced in 1970. She married Gene Fulmer in 1988 in El Dorado, Kansas, where they lived until Gene’s death in 2020. Joyce then moved back to Osage City, Kansas to be closer to her children.

In Osage City, Joyce, with her husband, owned the Osage Downtown Theatre, they built and operated the Osage City Bowling Alley and the Hillcrest Drive-In Theater. Joyce became a Real Estate broker and opened Joyce Hitchings Realtor Office. She was past president of the Osage City Chamber of Commerce, past president of the Osage County Historical Society, past president of the Kansas Independent Board of Realtors, and organizer of the Osage City Parade for 10 years. She was active as a leader in Girl Scouts.

Joyce moved to Emporia in 1970 and opened her real estate office, along with Flint Hills Motors and Gold and Silver Exchange. She was a past president of the Emporia Board of Realtors. While in El Dorado, she was active as past president of Soroptimist International, American Business Women’s Association, American Legion Auxiliary and Susan B. Allen Hospital Auxiliary as well as a volunteer for 14 years at the hospital.

Joyce will live on in the hearts and memories of her children, Lance Hitchings of Portland, Oregon; two daughters, Debra (Colin) Keefe of Lincoln, Nebraska and Shelly (Carey) Ogleby of Admire, Kansas; six grandchildren, Tyler (Kira) Hitchings of Toronto, Canada, Taylor (Christine) Keefe of Traverse City, Michigan, Kailey (Billy) Trumler of Lincoln, Nebraska, Justin (Melissa) Ogleby of Emporia, Jared Ogleby of Reading and Stacy (Shawn) Riedel of Admire, Kansas and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 12, 2023 at the VanArsdale Funeral Chapel in Osage City. Burial to follow at Admire Cemetery. Family visitation will be Wednesday, October 11, 2023 from 6:00 to7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Gentiva Hospice and sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, 107 N. Sixth, Osage City, KS 66523. Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.