Joyce Ann Ashley

Joyce Ann Ashley, 82 of Vernon, Tx, died at her
residence on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Joyce was born April 5, 1943 in Glasgow Ky, to
Smith Killebrew and Mary Louise Stokes Killebrew.
The Killebrew family moved to Vernon in 1949 from
Newton, Mississippi when Joyce was a young child as
her father took a job as foreman in the clothing factory.
Joyce graduated from Vernon High School in 1961.
She married Charles Ashley in April, 1974. She was
the Family Life Editor of the Vernon Record for more
than 50 years, including a two-year stint in the 1960s,
and then from 1974 until retiring in 2024. She also
served a two-year-stint as managing editor before semiretiring.
She loved her job and the people she met. She had a special care in
writing the obituaries for thousands of her fellow Vernonites.
Joyce’s love for Vernon and its people came out in the stories she wrote. She
was most proud of writing the story of Peggy Harris, and her missing WWII
husband. The story eventually made national news and was featured on the CBS
Evening News. She was also a frequent contributor, through a pen name, for
Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Joyce’s dedication and ethics led her to being recognized as Vernon’s Citizen
of the Year in 2005, and she received special recognition as the Doan’s Picnic
Honoree in 2023. Her work held the Vernon Record to being named the best
daily newspaper in Texas in 2017, and best weekly in Texas in 2023 and 2024.
She loved her church, and her church family. She was a faithful member of
Vernon’s First Methodist Church, donating her time and money to supporting its
ministry. She was instrumental in founding the church’s 􀂿 rst praise service, the
􀂿 rst in the area, more than two decades ago
She is survived by her husband Charles of the home; two sons Chris Ashley and
wife Joelee of Vernon; Shawn Ashley of Norman, Okla; Julie Howell and husband
Paul of Lucas; six grandchildren Elizabeth, William, Adam, Nathan, Devin, and
Kelsey; a sister Mary Jane Tatum and husband Jack of Wimberly, Tx.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at Vernon’s First
Methodist Church with Rev. Anthony Inman o􀵶 ciating.
Memorials may be made to the First Methodist Church of Vernon.