Donald E Joyner

Donald E. Joyner, age 96, of Conway, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2014. He was born February 23, 1918 in Arnold, Nebraska to his parents, the late Cleveland and Clara (Smith) Joyner. Reared and educated in Little Rock, he was a 1936 graduate of Little Rock High School, International Correspondence School of Electrical Engineering, University of Arkansas' Supervisory Development Program and Louisiana State University Management Service Institute. In 1938 Don started his 42-year career with Arkansas Power and Light Co. In the Construction Dept. he was employed as a ground man, apprentice lineman, meter installation lineman, combination lineman and journeyman serviceman. He was then promoted to district manager at Wynne, Morrilton and Stuttgart, Arkansas. Don was the Manager of the Year and past President of the AP&L Retirement Twenty-five Year Club retiring in 1980. Don had a passion for community and economic development, serving as a board member and President of Cross, Conway and Arkansas Counties. He was a Justice of the Peace for Arkansas and Conway Counties and served as a board of director's member for the Arkansas River Basin Association. Joyner then retired the second time as Manager and Leader of the Morrilton Chamber of Commerce. Don was a member of the board of directors and President of the Rotary Clubs for 36 years, a member of the Morrilton Masonic Lodge, a 32nd degree Mason and the Sahara Shrine just over 55 years. Don was a loving Christian and faithful member of First Baptist Church of Morrilton. Through the years he served in three churches and loved each one, serving as a Sunday school teacher, Deacon and Superintendent and of the Adult Dept. Don was preceded in death by his bride and soul mate of 64 years, Willie Joyner, sister, Doris Stafford (Cyrus), Des Arc and brother, Harold Joyner, Sr. (Dorothy), Cabot. His survivors include nieces, Debbie Morgan (Biff), Donna Job, Deloris Shaw, and nephew, Harold Joyner, Jr. (Jean) all of Little Rock and Sherwood; a niece, Phyllis Bohanon of Greenbrier. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Dana Thornton Simpson and her family, Judy Banz, both of Greeley, Colorado, Shirley Ertel (Jim) of Monument, Colorado; nephew, Don Simpson (Janet) of Olathe, Kansas; Willie's nephew Robert Dozier (Betty) of Bryant; and his two best friends and special care givers. He and his wife, Willie enjoyed gardening, attractive yards and traveling. Both were avid golfers, playing mostly in tournaments. Willie made one hole-in-one and Don had five. He also shot a golf score at or below his age from 71 to 86. He enjoyed living at College Square Retirement Community in Conway where he met and enjoyed a special friendship with Jewell Turner Woodard. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, July 11, 2014 at Harris Funeral Home Chapel in Morrilton with Dr. Bill Brown officiating and Soloist Jody Hurst. Burial will be 2 p.m. Friday at Forrest Hills Memorial Cemetery, 10200 Highway 5 No., Alexander, Arkansas. The family will receive friends 10 a.m. Friday at Harris Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 200 S. Church St., Morrilton, Ark. 72110. Online guestbook: www.harrisfuneralhomes.net.