OSAGE CITY, Kan. – Joyce Morgan Fulmer, 98, passed away Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023, at Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, Kan. Joyce Arlene Zettervall was born Feb. 23, 1925, in Brainerd, Minn., to John Enock and Pearl Christine (Fisher) Zettervall. At age 5, she was adopted by L. Irvin and Walberg Leontine (Zetterval) Morgan, of Wichita, Kan., 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, Dec. 28, 1947. Together they had three children, Lance, Debra and Shelly. They divorced in 1970. She married Gene Fulmer in 1988, in El Dorado, Kan., where they lived until Gene’s death in 2020. Joyce then moved back to Osage City to be closer to her children.

In Osage City, Joyce, with her husband, owned the Osage Downtown Theatre, and 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, Kan., 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, Susan B. Allen Hospital Auxiliary, and was a volunteer for 14 years at the hospital.

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

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, at VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, Osage City. Burial will follow at Admire Cemetery, Admire. Family visitation will be 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions can be made to Gentiva Hospice and sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, 107 N. Sixth St., Osage City, KS 66523. Condolences can be left at vanarsdalefs.com.