Joyce Atterberry

Joyce Atterberry, 92, of Petersburg died Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Petersburg, Illinois. Joyce was born March 24, 1934, in Oakford, Illinois, the daughter of Julius and Effie Lynn Vaughn. She married Claude I. Atterberry at the Petersburg United Methodist Church in Petersburg, Illinois, on June 22, 1956. Claude preceded Joyce in death in 2003. Joyce was born the identical twin sister of Janice Vaughn Goben, who preceded her in death in 2017. Also preceding her in death were her parents; two other sisters, Marilyn Vaughn Blakley and Shirley Vaughn Daniel; and one brother, Jack Vaughn. Her other brother, Roger (wife Judi) of Petersburg survives her. Joyce attended and graduated from schools in Kilbourne, Illinois, and was a proud member of the 14- person 1952 graduating class from Kilbourne High School. Following her high school graduation, she worked for the State of Illinois in Springfield. Sometime shortly thereafter, Joyce met Claude at the venerable Kilbourne establishment then known as “Barney’s,” where Joyce accepted an invitation to dance from Claude. Her acceptance of Claude’s dance invitation then led to dates, which included picnics at a local swimming hole known as Pecan Run, and, ultimately, their marriage. After marrying Claude in 1956, they moved to Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, where she and Claude lived and worked until Claude graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Civil Engineering in January 1959. Joyce and Claude remained enthusiastic supporters of Fighting Illini sports teams throughout their lives. Following Claude’s college graduation, they moved back to Petersburg and had two sons, Mike and Dan. During their childhood and before their eventual graduation from Petersburg PORTA High School, Joyce proudly worked diligently and tirelessly as a homemaker. She later worked for a long period as a cook in the Petersburg PORTA school district and eventually retired from the Office of the Illinois Secretary of State in Springfield in 1991. Although Joyce worked and served in other roles throughout her life, her most prized and cherished role was that of homemaker for her family. And she greatly excelled in that role. For not only Claude, Mike and Dan, but later for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and for anyone who came in contact with her family and home. She will be fondly remembered as a fierce and loyal advocate for her family. Joyce loved the outdoors and especially working outside caring for her yard, flowers and garden. She loved sports of all types and excelled for a period as a bowler in local leagues, leading those leagues in average in some years and narrowly missed rolling a perfect game on one memorable occasion. She was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, University of Illinois, Petersburg PORTA sports teams, and, of course, any teams or endeavors associated with her sons, or her grandchildren. Surviving is her son Mike Atterberry (wife Teresa) of Petersburg, grandson, Jack Atterberry (wife Katie); great-granddaughter, Lila; great-grandson, Thomas, all of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandson, Nick Atterberry (wife Maddie); great-granddaughters, Dawson and Tate, all of Petersburg; and grandson, Sam Atterberry (wife, Ally) of Omaha, Nebraska Also surviving is her son, Dan Atterberry (wife, Julie); granddaughter, Sarah Atterberry; great-granddaughter, Jayda, all of O’Fallon, Illinois; granddaughter Ellen Atterberry Schneider (husband, Charlie); great- granddaughter, Lindy; and great-grandson, Levi, all of Wright City, Missouri. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 8 from 5-7 p.m. at the Petersburg United Methodist Church, 221 West Jackson Street, Petersburg, Illinois. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 9, with additional visitation held from 10:30-11:00 a.m., at the Petersburg United Methodist Church. Burial will be held at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Petersburg. Hurley Funeral Home of Petersburg oversees the services. Memorials may be made to the Petersburg United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be shared with Joyce’s family at hurleyfh.com.

Joyce Atterberry

March 24, 1934 - April 30, 2026

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