Joyce Aileen (Camren) Zinn, 84, passed away Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Labette Health in Parsons after being in failing health for several years. Joyce had resided at the Good Samaritan Society in Parsons.
Joyce was born on June 2, 1940, in Chautauqua to Charles Virgil and Lela Rae (Avery) Camren. The family moved from Kansas to California then relocated to Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and on to Parsons in 1961.
In 1957, Joyce married Little Joe Ward, her childhood sweetheart in Pawhuska. Having completed her high school education, Joyce attended trade school to become a beautician. Little Joe passed away in 1969. A few years later, Joyce married Loyd Zinn. They were together for 19 years.
Joyce spent over 42 years as a hairdresser and owned her shops for several years. The most recent was the Silhouette Beauty Salon in Parsons. Her other employment consisted of six years as a bookkeeper for J.C. Penney’s in Parsons and a women’s clothing store in Franklin, Louisiana, while living there for a few years. After she and her family returned to Parsons, Joyce spent many years helping her dad, Virgil, at Red Barn Sales in Parsons. They both retired after closing Red Barn Sales after 50 years in business.
Joyce spent 45-plus years as an excellent bowler competing in many local, state and regional tournaments. She earned numerous trophies and recognition for her achievements.
Fond memories of Joyce are raising her children and three of her grandchildren, many of those years as a single mother. She worked hard and at times at multiple jobs to make ends meet. She reminded her children and grandchildren of their full names quite often when they were in trouble. A very compassionate and caring person, Joyce was known as mom and grandma to many other children in the community, and she considered them her own as well.
Survivors include five children, Jo A. Ward-Hill (Bob Mc-Curry), Chris L. Ward (Ethel), Sandra K. Ward, Charles M. Ward and Rodney Zinn (Rebecca); three grandchildren she raised, Kimberly Byrd (John), Ashely Ward (Ryan) and Kristina White (Jerry); nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Kay Kraft; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Camren, in 2017; her mother, Lela Camren, in 2005; her first husband, Little Joe Ward, in 1969; her second husband, Loyd Zinn, in 2011; her granddaughter, Tammy Lynn Hill-Pitre, in 2017; great-granddaughter, Nichole Dawn Ward, in 2013; daughter-in-law, Marsha (Hinman) Ward, in 1997; and sister, Vera Rae Crouch, in 2011.
The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 2, at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons. The family suggests memorials to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS, 67357.
Leave online condolences at www.forbeshoffman.com.
