Funeral: Joan Fuller

Joan Aline (Robinett) Fuller, born April 1, 1943, in Kansas City, entered into her eternal rest in the presence of our Lord on December 2, 2021, at home in Claycomo at the age of 78 years, 8 months, and 1 day—after a brave fight with brain cancer.

She was the daughter of Aubrey and Helen Robinett…and the sister to her four brothers: Horatio, Benny, Preston, and Neal—and Neal, I understand, also passed away just this past Sunday…I am so sorry to hear that.

Joan was a 1961 graduate of NKCHS…the only school she attended after that was the school (university) of life. Through the course of her life she worked at an area bank, & Midwest Terminal (barge company), & ArchWay Sales (from which she retired).

In 1963, Joan met and married Kenneth Wayne Wages. Unfortunately, that relationship ended in divorce. Joan would later meet and marry Roger Fuller on May 22, 1993…the date of which, early on, Roger would often have to remind her (usually it’s the other way around). Oh…funny story. The other day my wife, Rhonda, and I were visiting Joan in the rehab facility with Roger there. I asked her how she and Roger met. She looked at me and said, “You’re not going to like this.” So, I braced for the startling news…and she said, “We met dancing.”…So…I laughed. I thought it was great! Roger and Joan enjoyed square dancing and other forms of “ballroom” or line dancing for years.

Joan cared for her children, especially her daughters: Jo Annette (Wages) Miller, and Barbara Jean (Wages) Burch, and her son, Wayne Wages, …AND, she really enjoyed the added blessing of her grandchildren: Aubrey and Katie-Jo Miller…and the blessing of her additional family when she married Roger.

Throughout her life, Joan found enjoyment in many ways. She liked gardening and bird-watching. She enjoyed sewing and crocheting…in fact my older son and daughter-in-law recently received a nice afghan for their soon-to-be-born son from her. She enjoyed trips to places like Watkins' Mill. She also enjoyed relationships…like spending time with her grandkids…& there was Carol—her life-long friend…from the day they met on the school bus. Carol was shorter, tiny in fact; and Joan, being taller stood up for her and they became “friends for life.”

Having lived in the Claycomo area early on…in fact, they were neighbors of the Foltzes then…and then having moved back to the area in the early 2000s…I am thankful that she connected her life with the life of our Church family at Claycomo Baptist Church. I am thankful that we have had an opportunity to be blessed by her and be a blessing to her and Roger, too.

Of all the descriptions of Joan which I have heard from family, church family, and friends…loving is the one that tops them all. Joan expressed a love not only in words, but also in actions. One of these ‘love-in-action’ moments, her daughter Barbara shared with me took place when she mentioned to her Mom that her hands get cold in the office where she works since they tended to keep the temp in the building quite cool. In relatively short order, Joan brought her a pair of finger-less gloves she could wear when working in the office…which she uses regularly. Joan was also someone who loved learning and teaching…and friendly, never meeting a stranger.

Song: Sweet Hour of Prayer - Alan Jackson

Message

John 1:1–14 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

As we have gathered here today, I have two hopes for you—namely family—to be encouraged and comforted. First, sharing special memories of your relationship with Joan. Keep this up. Don’t ever stop.

Second, that the truth of God, revealed in his word, will provide you a secure and safe place upon which you can rest your hope and find peace and strength. To help me do this, I recently asked Joan what passage from the Bible she would like me to use for her funeral service. She told me, “The one that says, ‘In the beginning was the word...’” I responded to her, “Excellent! That’s John chapter one verse one. John Chapter One, now that’s a great passage with a lot of encouraging truth to share.” SO…that’s what I am going to do today—now, not the whole chapter, just a few important and helpful verses for this occasion.

Let’s begin with John 1.1-4

John 1:1–4 ESV

“In the beginning...” [John begins his Gospel account by going all the way back and echoing creation (Genesis 1.1 “1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”)…because “all things were made through him,” including us—our lives, Joan’s life, too, are Jesus’ creation]

“…was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God....” [How do I know that we are talking about being Jesus’ creation here? well (quote rest of v. 1)...

…well, let’s bring Christmas into this with John 1.14 “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” …yes, I’m convinced that the Lord God of all creation of whom we read here is God the Father, the Son, and Spirit. This is some seriously Good News…and it keeps on getting better!]

“…in him was life, and the life was the light of men...” [in much the same way that God spoke into existence light at creation, Jesus is the “light of men,” “the light of the world” (John 8.12). Light guides. Light calms. Light comforts....maybe, just maybe, this was a reason Joan liked being outside gardening and bird-watching.]

(Speaking of light and darkness,) I’d also like to emphasize John 1.5

John 1:5 ESV

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

“…has not overcome it...” [=darkness has not overtaken, seized, nor overpowered the light; So, what do we often consider the greatest darkness we can think of? I’d sway that would be death. Not even death has been, is, nor will be able to overpower the light of Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15.54-57 “When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”)

…as the Apostle Paul tells the Christians in Corinth, this is a specific promise for a specific people…like John also says back here in chapter one of his Gospel account...

Let me share with you John 1.12-13

John 1:12–13 ESV

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

"…to all who did receive him...gave the right to become children of God...” [This is key…victory over death involves trust—faith—in Jesus Christ as your (our) Savior and Lord. I believe that Joan had that faith, repenting of sin and trusting Jesus Christ as the one and only Son of God who, born at Christmas lived a sinless life and died on the cross for her sin…and the sin of all who will repent and believe in and follow him.]

BUT…she wasn’t perfect! News flash—I’m not perfect, nobody is…including you if you are honest with yourself…BUT our struggles as we trust Jesus with our lives don’t push him away from us. That draws him closer to us!

My question for everyone here today…Do you have the courage, again, as I certainly believe that Joan did, to trust Jesus to be your Savior and Lord? This is the only way to have unshakable hope, peace, and strength…even in the face of death. If you’re not sure, please contact me—come by the church, call the church, get on our church’s website and email me…do whatever it takes to know that today you are not simply saying goodbye to Joan today…but “I’ll see you later,” because you have trusted the same Savior that she…had....actually she HAS!

Song: Amazing Grace - Alan Jackson

Prayer

Dismissal of Chapel Service

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GRAVESIDE SERVICE:

Scripture Reading - 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.