Joyce Cox Westlake

Joyce Mae Cox Westlake, age 101, is now in her heavenly home with her pre-deceased parents, Guy Melvin Cox and Doshia Davis Cox, siblings and their spouses: Mary Love Cox Kasselberg (Dr. Lyman) Roy Melvin Cox (Frances), Victor Davis Cox, (Jackie), and James Lewis Cox (Hope). Also, pre-deceasing Mrs. Westlake: niece Sherry Lynn Cox Payne, nephew Victor Davis Cox, Jr., step-son Wesley Pruden, Jr., step-daughter Jeanie Ann Pruden Settle (Bobby) and step-grandson Tony Prather. Mrs. Westlake was born April 4, 1921, in Williford, Ark., and attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, Ark., before her marriage to Dr. Malcolm Guy Taylor, who passed away in 1970. Joyce and Malcolm Taylor had two children: Dr. Daniel Guy Taylor (Judi) of Memphis, Tenn., and Mary Janet Florian of Oriental, N.C., two grandchildren: Erin C. Taylor Hardin (Josh), Birmingham, Ala., and Grant Taylor Florian (Sara), Rio Branco, Brazil, and two great-grandchildren: Fiona C. Hardin and Ambrose Malcolm Hardin. After the loss of Dr. Taylor, Joyce married Rev. Wesley Pruden, deceased, John W. Prather, deceased, and Robert D. Westlake, deceased. Surviving Mrs. Westlake are devoted and much-loved step-children, Joan Pruden Guthridge, and John Wade Prather and his wife Jane. Surviving step-grandchildren are: James and Jeff Guthridge (Trena). Mrs. Westlake was a long time Little Rock resident and retired from the Arkansas Dept of Education. After retirement, she volunteered many hours at Baptist Hospital, Little Rock and contributed to many national and international charities. She was an active and involved member of Markham Street Baptist Church. Her many hours of volunteer services won her awards from the Hermitage Chapter of the DAR Memphis, Tenn., and Baptist Hospital, Little Rock, Ark., among other accolades. Mrs. Westlake also enjoyed bowling until her 99th year of life with the Tuesday Four Ladies Bowling League, often as the week's highest scoring bowler. She was also in a Silver Sneakers exercise class until the Covid pandemic. With her gentle spirit and generous personality, she will long be remembered as someone who loved the Lord, music, current events, her family, and friends. Many years of her life she lived independently managing her gardening, housework, driving and activities. All fourteen of her nieces and nephews attended her 100th birthday party with many of their children and families. Mrs. Westlake lived her last year and a half in Memphis TN, at the assisted living facility The Village at Primacy Place and enjoyed many visits from her local family members including a dog named Riff. Memorials can be made in Mrs. Westlake's name to Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way, Slot 661, Little Rock, Ark. 72202, or the charity of your choice. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, in the chapel of Roller Chenal Funeral Home, a funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. Burial will be at Rest Hills Memorial Park in North Little Rock. Please share your memories of Mrs. Westlake at www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal