- SPECIAL -
Halfway Pays Tribute to Educator

HALFWAY--Residents came to Halfway High School on Thursday to remember a friend.

They dedicated a granite marker, 6 feet wide and 4 feet high, in honor of school administrator Joyce M. Creemer, who died two years ago from damage to her aorta suffered in a car crash. The school's FFA chapter led the fund-raising drive for the sign.

"She really cared for all people, especially the students," said senior Josh Drake.

Creemer, a Mountain Grove native, started as Halfway's superintendent in 1994. Her 24 year career in education included stints as an art teacher in Fordland and Kindergarten teacher in Seymour. She taught classes at the Ozark Correctional Center at Fordland. And she served in administrative posts in the Norwood, Bolivar and Springfield school districts.

WALNUT GROVE - Joyce Marie Creemer, 53, Walnut Grove, passed away Wednesday at 6:55 a.m. in St. John's Regional Health Center, Springfield, following a sudden illness.

Joyce, was born in Mountain Grove, Mo., and was a Walnut Grove resident since 1989, moving here from Bolivar, Mo. She was an educator, a 1960 graduate of the Mountain Grove high school. She received her B. S. in Elementary Education from Dury College. She received her Masters and Specialist Degree from SMSU. Her teaching career includes Baldwin Elementary, St. Louis, St. Joseph Parochial, Springfield, Fordland Art Department, K through 12, Seymour elementary, Adult Education at Ozark Correctional, Fordland, Norwood Principal K through 12, Director of Elementary Education of Bolivar school district, Principal of Fairbanks Elementary in the Springfield school system and was completing her third year as superintendent of the schools of the Halfway school system. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma sorority, Missouri and National Association of School Administrators, and was past President of Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals. She was an active member of Harold Baptist Church, where she was involved with the church building project.

Joyce and Lee C. Creemer were united in marriage June 22, 1983. Together they were privileged to share 13 years.

She is survived by her husband, Lee of the home; five sons and their families, Michael and Windy Nicholson and their children, Tony and Michael, Atlanta, Ga., Scott and Allyson Nicholson and their son, David, Clarksville, Tenn., Brad and Kendra Nicholson and their son, Cody, Newalla, Okla., Trafton Creemer, Springfield, Mo., and Davis Creemer, Seattle, Wash., her Father and step-mother, Herman and Doris Mitchell, Ellis Prarie, Mo.; her mother and step-father Hazel and Ode Mitchell, Mountian Grove, Mo.; a sister, Darlene Whitman, Mountain Grove.; four brothers and their wives, Stephen and Bonnie Mitchell, Cabool, Mo., Johnie and Lora Mitchell, Bucyrus, Mo., Mark and Shelly Mitchell, Cabool, Mo., and Loyd and Caroline Mitchell, Mountain Grove, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday , March 22, 1997, in the Walnut Grove High School Field House with the Rev. James Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Greene Lawn Cemetery, Walnut Grove, under direction of Wilson Brim-Daniel funeral Home, Walnut Grove.

Friends may call at their convenience after 3 p.m. today in the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given in her name to Harold Baptist Church Building Fund.