Joyce Boone Ammons passed away at her home in Mars Hill on May 24, 2017. Joyce's life ambition was to nurture children. Joyce cared for children in her home for 30 years, known as "Ms. Ammons" to hundreds of children. She then established Little Friends, Inc. childcare center and for the past 20 years has been known as "Nana" to the hundreds more children who have been in her care. For over 50 years Joyce has influenced children, teaching them life lessons that many still carry with them today. She and Woody fostered a number of children as well. Joyce touched many young lives throughout the years.

Joyce is preceded in death by parents Lester Homer Boone and Virgie Edwards Boone as well as siblings, Earl Boone, Lester (Tommy) Boone Jr., Judy Boone, Charles Gregory, and Jerry Boone, and grandson, Lewis Gabriel Barilovits. Joyce is survived by her husband Woody Ammons of Mars Hill and three daughters: Rachel (Lee) Hoffman, children Sarah (Allen) and Tyler; Karlyn (Paul) Barilovits, children Hannah, Jenna, and Luke; Juree Regazzi, children Cade and Kobe. Joyce considered the Kevin Barnette (Recy and children Elisha, Nehemiah and Anna) family her own. She is also survived by siblings Margie Stroupe, Alvin Boone, Diane Holland, Syvella Whitaker, Jimmy Boone, and Dean Gregory.

A brief funeral service will be held at 1pm Sunday, June 4, 2017, at Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service. The family will receive friends following the service.

In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to any children's charity of your choice.