Joyce Ollis Lawing, a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend passed away peacefully on Feb. 1, 2021, surrounded in love by her family.
Joyce Lawing was born in Ingalls, NC on Nov. 13, 1936, to the late James Bruce and Zola Elizabeth Ollis. Joyce, one of nine children, was active in Pine Grove Methodist Church in Spruce Pine, graduated from Crossnore High School in 1954 and Appalachian State Teacherâs College in 1958.
Joyce made life-long friends and had many interests in college that included being elected to the Student Government and Appalachianâs Chief Cheerleader. While attending college, she met Harold Lawing, who played on the Appalachian Menâs Varsity Basketball team and was âYosef,â the universityâs mascot. They married in June 1958. Joyce and Harold were active in ASU alumni organizations, and at a reunion Joyce would be hoisted up on the shoulders of fearless collegiate cheerleaders during a home football game, when s