Olive Stofflet

Olive Joyce Stofflet, 79, of Casper, peacefully passed at home while sleeping in the early morning hours of June 18th, 2015. She was born November 20, 1935 in Aurora, Colorado to Paul and Annabelle (Surratt) Eckenrode. She was known as Joyce by her family and friends. Joyce was the middle child with two older sisters, one younger sister, and a younger brother. At the tender age of three, Joyce was in a car accident that left her with severe head trauma and a shattered right hip socket and pelvis. She spent several years of her youth in Denver Childrens Hospital in a body cast. Despite the odds being against her, Joyce persevered and learned to live with a slight disability. At a young age, she suffered from rheumatic fever which damaged her heart; this damaged was not diagnosed until 1973. As a young woman, Joyce professed her life to God and remained faithful until her death. She was always ready to offer a helping hand to those in need. Joyce never displayed any bitterness regarding her situation and lived the life of a virtuous woman. In the summer of 1958 she met the love of her life Franklin M. Stofflet at a fellowship convention in Denver, Colorado. On December 26th, 1959, she married Frank and they enjoyed 55 years of marriage together. The couple lived in Nunn, Colorado until the summer of 1961. Frank taught school, while Joyce took care of their home. In October of 1960, their son Franklin W. was born in Colorado. Frank and Joyce moved to Torrington Wyoming in 1961, where Frank continued to teach school. During the summer of 1963, while Frank was finishing his Masters Degree in Laramie, Wyoming, their second child Krista was born in July. The couple stayed in Torrington, Wyoming until Frank took another teaching position at Natrona County High School in Casper, Wyoming. The couple has remained in Casper since 1964. In April of 1974, their third child April was born. Throughout the years of their marriage, Joyce remained a homemaker and showered her children and grandchildren with love. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. During the summers, the family would reside in Wheatland, Wyoming to help Frank's parents with their hay farm. Joyce looked after her in-laws as if they were her own parents. The couple never failed to attend their fellowship meetings and conventions over the years. Often they would travel to new places as far as the west coast to attend a convention. Joyce very much enjoyed attending family reunions in Colorado. Joyce enjoyed making scrapbooks for her children during their early school years and kept many pieces of artwork and report cards. She would make cupcakes for school parties and was always present at special school functions. Joyce not only looked out for her own children, but all the other children in the neighborhood as well. As one friend who grew up in the neighborhood recently stated "she was the angel of the neighborhood and looked after all of us on our way to and from school every day and kept us all safe, especially from each other". She also enjoyed scrap-booking the many birthday cards she received. Joyce was meticulous at keeping track of the birthdays of her many family members and friends. She would make a point to remind everyone else in the family when a birthday was coming up. Due to her disability, Joyce never learned to drive a car, so she walked everywhere within reasonable distance. She loved to visit with the neighbors and developed lasting friendships with many of them. If she could not visit someone, her next favorite form of communication was the telephone. Joyce's husband retired from teaching in 2004 and the couple was able to enjoy trips to various destinations across the nation and visit their children who lived in Colorado. When able, the couple attended various sporting events to watch their grandchildren. Joyce was a member of the Casper Chapter of Mended Hearts and attended a national conference in Charleston, South Carolina. She enjoyed eating lunch each day at the Central Wyoming Senior Center where she could interact with other seniors. Joyce enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and children during the holidays or other special occasions. As Joyce got older, the injuries from the car accident caused her a lot of pain and her heart problems began to cause serious health problems. A heart valve replacement in 2008 extended her time with her family, for which we all are forever grateful. Survivors include her husband Franklin M. Stofflet, son Franklin W. Stofflet (Debra) of Arvada, Colorado, daughter Krista Emrick (Perry) of Colorado Springs, Colorado, daughter April Gindulis (Clifford) of Casper, Wyoming, sister Mary Thomas of Dacono, Colorado, seven grandchildren {Alexandra Stofflet-Votaw, Jeremy Emrick, Cameron and Dylan Stofflet, Nicholas Gindulis, and Andrew and Austin Emrick, three great-grandsons (Kayden and Logan Emrick, and Andrew Votaw) plus numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. She is proceeded in death by her parents Paul and Annabelle, two sisters Barbara and Joan, a brother John and one granddaughter Felicia Emrick. Burial will follow at Highland Park Cemetery in Casper. The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the staff at Central Wyoming Hospice for their support during the final days of her life. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Central Wyoming Hospice at 319 S. Wilson Street, Casper, WY 82601.

Service

Monday, June 29, 2015 11:00am

Bustard's Funeral Home

600 CY Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82601

Visitation

Monday, June 29, 2015 10:00am - 11:00am

Bustard's Funeral Home

600 CY Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82601