Mrs. Joyce Kay Smothers, 76, of Springfield, IL, died at 2:20 p.m. Tuesday April 9, 2013 at Taylorville Care Center in Taylorville, IL.

Joyce was born March 7, 1937 the daughter of Richard and Elfreda Welle Lauwerens. She married Richard L. Smothers in June of 1967 in St. Rita's Catholic Church, Kincaid.

She graduated from South Fork High School and worked for the Illinois Department of Public Health for over 30 years. She enjoyed traveling, bowling, the baseball Cardinals and spending time with family. She was a member of St. Catherine Drexel Parish.

Surviving are her husband, Richard; brother, Jim (Mary Ann) Lauwerens of Carlinville; sister, Linda Lauwerens of Dawson; brother-in-law, Gary (Gigi) Smothers of Taylorville; sisters-in-law, Fay (Dan) Hay of Kincaid, and Beverly Wiggs of Mascoutah; nephews, Regina (Lee) Peterson, Kevin (Janette) Wiggs, Kenneth Wiggs, Bill (Becky) Wiggs, Lori (Dan) Roethemeyer, Rich Lauwerens, Mary Lauwerens, Jim (Christina) Lauwerens Jr., Mike (Lori) Smothers, Debra (Joe) Champley, David (Jane) Hay, Greg (Janet) Hay and numerous great nieces and nephews.

A prayer service was held at 4:45 p.m. Thursday April 11, 2013 at Masterson Funeral Home in Kincaid. A visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home and from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 12, 2013 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Springfield.

A Funeral Mass was held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, April 12, 2013, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Springfield, with Fr. John Nolan as celebrant. Burial followed in Calvary Cemetery at Pawnee.

Memorials may be made to St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Springfield.