Joyce Croxton Etter

Funeral services for Joyce Cook Croxton Etter, 91, of Lexington and formerly of Kershaw will be held at 3:00 P.M. Sunday, October 19, 2008, in the chapel of Baker Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Cook Family Plot at Kershaw City Cemetery. Rev. Jesse Hegler will officiate.

Born in Kershaw, S.C. on November 6, 1916, she was the youngest child of the late Amos Leander Cook and Lou Faile Cook. Mrs. Etter died Thursday, October 16, 2008 at her home. She was baptized in the First Baptist Church when she was thirteen years old and changed to Presbyterian faith after she was married. She was educated in the Kershaw Schools where she played on the high school basketball team and was in the Chorus and Glee Club. She attended her class's 50th reunion.

Mrs. Etter was widowed twice. She was first married to the late Willie Reed(Bill) Croxton of Kershaw for 51 years. She was later married to the late Willis Rolland (Bill) Etter.

Surviving are three daughters and son-in-laws, Rita and Richard Rasmussen, Dot and Rodney Pimental, Sandra and George Long all of Lexington; step-daughter, Susan Ward and her husband John of Estes, CO, and three step-sons; grandchildren; Dawn R. Smith of Flagstaff, AZ, Scott Rasmussen and his wife Mara of Phoenix, AZ, Christopher Rasmussen of Weirton, West Virginia, Bill Pimental and his wife Sharon, Jill P.Lee and her husband David and Jett Jerome all of Lexington, Julie P.Stubblefield and her husband Fee of Amity, OR, Jenny J. Peaster and her husband Ronnie of Enterprise, AL, Sarah L.Council and her husband T.C., of Humbolt, TN; step-grandchildren; Kathy L.Collin and her husband, Fred of Lexington and Rob Long of Prosperity; 21 great grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister in law; Charlotte Croxton of Kershaw.

During World War, II, she worked making airplane parts. Mrs. Etter had many business ventures during her life. She received many awards for her accomplishments. She was a World Book representative, obtained her real estate license, a nurse's aid license, completed a business course, obtained her Notary license, opened and ran a restaurant with her first husband. She also owned and ran an insurance business and later an insurance and small loan company. Mrs. Etter co-owned a jewelry and gift shop with two sisters, trained to be and worked as an insurance adjuster in Lancaster and Rock Hill. She managed and rented several offices that she owned. She was active in the business of the Town of Kershaw and helped with Cancer Crusade, beautification programs and other town projects. She was appointed by Governor John Carl West to represent Kershaw County in the line resetting of the Kershaw and Lancaster County line through the Town of Kershaw.

She was the first woman elected to the Chamber of Commerce in Kershaw and was asked to run for mayor which she turned down. She and her first husband were active in the South Carolina Farm Bureau where she served as chairman of Women's Committee and won the state membership drive in all categories for at least three years in a row. She was involved with the Miss South Carolina, Miss Kershaw, and Miss Farm Bureau beauty contestants for several years and acted as chaperon and as judge. She was also passionate about polities and was part of the South Carolina Delegation to the Republican Convention in Houston when George W. Bush was running for President. She was invited to George Bush's, George W. Bush's and Ronald Reagan's inaugurations and parties afterwards. She was talented in sewing and made most of her children's clothes. Mrs. Etter was a good cook and was still cooking her wonderful dinners after her 91st birthday. She played the piano and organ by ear. She believed in hard work , clean living and honesty. She was a strong influence in the lives of her children and grandchildren and always encouraged them to do their best. She believed in education and living by the principles of the Golden Rule.

She was the last living member of her family. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by brothers; Soulee and George Cook of Kershaw, William Franklin Bogue Cook of Hartsville and sisters; Gladys C. Jones of Bishopville, Jerusha Jay C. Truesdale of Columbia, Mildred C. Rivers of Kershaw and Cora C. Parker of Lexington.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 2 to 3 P.M at Baker Funeral Home, 210 East Hilton Street, Kershaw, S.C. .

Memorial contributions may be made to Lancaster County Council on Aging, Meals on Wheels Program, Post Office Box 1296, Lancaster, South Carolina 29721 or Beaver Creek Presbyterian Church, 1928 Kershaw Country Club Road, Kershaw, South Carolina 29067.