Joyce Shaw

Joyce Lorraine Shaw, 73, of Little Rock died Friday night at the Baptist Health Hospital hospice in Little Rock, surrounded by her husband, two children, six cherished grandchildren and other members of her family. Joyce was the best friend, helpmate and beloved wife of 54 years of Robert L. Shaw. She was born April 30, 1941, in Little Rock to the Rev. E.O. McElroy and Floy McElroy, who, along with three siblings, preceded her in death. While she was known widely as "Joyce," she was "Lorraine" to her parents and other relatives on her side of the family.

Joyce and Robert met while seniors at North Little Rock High School in 1959 and were married July 30, 1960. His pursuit of a college degree was her passion and she opted out of college in her freshman year to work and help pay the bills. With their first child on the way in 1962, she stopped working until their two children were nearing college.

And, just as she had varied personal interests, she showed versatility in her choice of jobs. Among them were bookkeeper, payroll clerk, data processing and, taking advantage of her eye as a talented artist, a stint as a furniture display manager for a Sears department store. She also took college courses in real estate and banking at the behest of her bank employer at the time.

Her energy and ease of meeting people served her well in establishing new households and making new friends as she and Robert moved about the country in his jobs - as a newsman, correspondent and chief of bureau for The Associated Press - to St. Louis, Little Rock, Memphis, Jackson, Miss., Oklahoma City, Indianapolis and Little Rock again, the last stop in 1997. She was a cheerful presence at functions of AP member newspaper editors and broadcasters.

Along the way, she served as a volunteer in literacy and other programs and received a citation for her help to the Memphis area Red Cross. She especially was happy reading to the elderly and blind as well as serving as a tutor in an adult literacy program. She served as a Cub Scout den mother. A member of Calvary Baptist Church in North Little Rock, she also relished attending Bible study classes over the years.

Joyce had a way of boiling down situations. One time, for instance, she watched from the golf cart as Robert and two friends walked to far different parts of the fairway to find their errant tee shots and concluded, "Just because you play together doesn't necessarily mean you play together."

In addition to her husband, Joyce is survived by son Robbie Shaw of North Little Rock; daughter Erin Moore (Dwight) of Flower Mound, Texas; granddaughters Allison Shaw and Madison Shaw of North Little Rock and Caitlin Moore, Haley Moore and Ashlyn Moore of Flower Mound; grandson Mason Shaw of North Little Rock; and sisters Maxine Scott of Maumelle and Trish Whitaker (Bo) of Conway.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, 10 Corporate Hill Dr. #340, Little Rock, AR 72205, Alzheimer's Arkansas, 10411 West Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205 and Calvary Baptist Church, 5025 Lynch Dr., North Little Rock, AR 72117.
Online obituary at www.SmithFamilyCares.com