The short version: Joyce loved and served God. Joyce loved and served her family. Joyce felt most at home in western Oklahoma with respites in the Colorado mountains. Joyce had a beautiful smile and a loving heart, and was always patient, gracious, caring and accepting. Joyce rarely uttered a negative word. Above all, Joyce was a devoted mother, encouraging her own children and others to become all they're capable of.

For the rest of the story…

Joyce Louise (Agan) Hargrove was born on September 3, 1937, in Custer County, Oklahoma, just off Route 66, the first child of Joy Samuel Agan and Frances Elizabeth (Matthews) Agan. Their family farm raised wheat, cattle, sheep, and hogs. Joyce did all the typical farm chores – brought cattle in from pasture, milked cows, gathered eggs, gardened, canned vegetables, made lye soap, hand-cranked the cream separator, drove a wheat truck during harvest (years before having a driver's license) and plowed the fields after harvest. Sundays were spent at the Methodist Church followed by Agan family dinner with all her aunts, uncles, and cousins. She fondly recalled the joy and relief when her Matthews uncles returned home from WWII.

After graduating from Custer City High School in 1955, Joyce moved to Oklahoma City with several high school friends. She worked at Southwestern Bell in long-distance billing during the day and attended Oklahoma City University classes in the evenings. Weekend visits home were by bus. That first Christmas in "the City," Joyce proudly bought gifts for her family that included their first television and her father's first wristwatch – he had always carried only a pocket watch. The following year, she purchased her own used 1947 Chevy.

Joyce met Elson Hargrove when he preached at her home church one Sunday morning. That $150 car purchase proved a wise investment, providing an invitation to drive him back to Oklahoma City that afternoon. They married on August 30, 1958, then drove to Dallas for Elson to begin seminary the next week. Throughout his years as an ordained United Methodist minister, Joyce was the faithful "preacher's wife" partner in ministry, making every parsonage the family home and every church family an extension of their own. Their appointments included Valliant, McAlester, Coalgate, Carnegie, Tulsa, Pawnee, Wewoka, Frederick, and Tahlequah.

Besides her faith, Joyce's greatest love was her family with son Steven Neill and daughter Belinda Gayle. She treasured being a mother and participated in all the kids' activities: Cub Scout den leader, Girl Scout troop leader, church camp counselor, band trip chaperone, church youth sponsor. She rarely said "no" when they asked her to be involved. During their high school years, their home was one where friends gathered. As adults, Steve and Belinda's friends were added to the fold. She beamed with pride when sharing their accomplishments and activities, no matter how big or small.

Before their marriage, they agreed Joyce would work to put Elson through seminary and later complete her college degree. After both children started elementary school, she commuted to Oklahoma State University, earning her elementary education degree in 1974. She taught elementary grades in Wewoka and Frederick then, recognizing the need for reading teachers, she commuted to Southwestern Oklahoma State University for a master's degree. She then was a reading specialist in Wagoner and later Owasso, retiring in 1999.

Family camping vacations visited national parks in Colorado, New Mexico, the Canadian Rockies, and Grand Canyon, among others. Joyce and Elson ventured to Alaska in 2002 on a motorhome tour, accompanied by their faithful dog Sam. While most of their travels were within the U.S., they attended the Oberammergau Passion Play on a trip through Germany and Austria, toured Ireland and visited religious sites in Israel. After retiring, they spent most summers in South Fork, Colorado, gaining a new community of friends.

Joyce believed that belonging to an organization meant being an active participant. For 55 years, Joyce was in P.E.O. – an organization that motivates, educates, and celebrates women –  the last 41 years with Chapter FP, Broken Arrow. Since moving to Tulsa in 1984, Joyce belonged to St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, now Hope UMC. She was active in United Methodist Women and many church ministries including Spot 31, Restore Hope, Cookson Hills and cooked for several Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trips. If there was a church event, Joyce was there and usually with a casserole dish or dessert!

Joyce was an excellent seamstress, sewing many outfits for herself, her daughter (and her daughter's dolls) and helped neighbors and church members with sewing needs. Annually, she made Christmas flannel pj's for a son of Steve's friends from the time he was a toddler well into his teens. Joyce's creativity extended to oil painting (began lessons in her 40's), crafts, embroidery, basketry, and quilting. When her children were young, Steve and Belinda's birthday cakes were shaped into a penguin, swan, giraffe, or firecracker cupcakes.

Joyce and Elson were married for nearly 67 years before his death in August 2025. She is survived by son Steven of Tulsa; daughter Belinda of Colleyville, TX; and sister Gayle Dekker of Oklahoma City. Her brother Marvin Agan preceded her in death.

The family appreciates the loving care of Trinity Woods staff and Amedysis Hospice for the comfort provided Joyce. Memorials may be directed to:

Trinity Woods, 4134 East 31st Street, Tulsa, OK 74135 or https://trinitywoodstulsa.com/donate/

Tulsa Ballet, 1212 East 45th Place South, Tulsa, OK 74105 or https://tulsaballet.org

Hope United Methodist Church, 12424 E. 31st Street, Tulsa, OK 74146