Funeral services for Elzie Lee Joynor, Jr., age 81 of Ruston, LA, will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Cathedral of Praise Worship Center in Ruston, LA, with Rev. Bo Nicholson and Rev. Brian McAllister officiating.  Burial will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery in Vernon, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Elzie Lee Joynor, Jr. was born on September 12, 1939 in Vernon, Louisiana.  He was the youngest of six children.  He graduated from Chatham High School on May 23, 1957. E.L. was an excellent baseball player and was proud to be on the 1958 baseball team at Louisiana Polytechnic Institute.  While he was attending, Tech, E.L. was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals and offered a position on the team.  No stranger to sacrifice, E.L. turned down the offer to stay home and take care of his mother who died in 1960. He graduated from Louisiana Polytechnic Institute on May 28, 1962 with a B.S. in Mathematics.  He immediately went to work for Continental Can in Hodge, Louisiana.  He worked his way up from shoveling salt cake to Production Control Supervisor.  He worked forty-one years at the paper mill in Hodge before retiring.

E.L. was a loving husband, father, and grandfather.  He always put everyone else first and took care of his son, Mike while he was ill and has spent the past six years taking care of his wife; Betty following her stroke.  His grandchildren were very important to him, and he was very involved in all of their endeavors.  He cheered Brandon at his baseball games, celebrated when Nick was accepted to vet school at Lincoln Memorial University, assisted Alex in his FFA projects, and was so proud that Katelyn graduated with a degree in Radiologic Technology last week.

While his grandchildren were his favorite hobby, E.L. also loved squirrel hunting and raising cattle.  He was a member of Cathedral of Praise Worship Center and loved his church and church family.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Eva Pye Joynor and his father, Elzie Lee Joynor, Sr., his brothers, Henry Ferguson, Billy Ferguson, Johnette Ferguson, and his sisters Estelle Lee and Alverne Miglore.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of fifty-eight years, Betty Joynor.  His children, Mike Joynor, Gary Joynor and wife Sandy, Christy Walker and husband Leo.  His grandchildren, Brandon Joynor and wife Elizabeth, Katelyn Rasmussen and husband Brandon, Nicholas Walker and wife Heather, Alexander Walker and girlfriend, Elizabeth.  He leaves behind several nieces and nephews, including special niece Frankie Harper and nephew Johnny Ferguson.  He also leaves behind his best friend Joe Stewart and wife Myra.

Honoring E.L. by serving as pallbearers are; Brandon Joynor, Nicholas Walker, Alexander Walker, Johnny Ferguson, Darren Lee and Craig Pearson.  Honorary pallbearers are Joe Stewart, Charles Harper and Brandon Rasmussen.

The family wishes to acknowledge Deana Thomas, Courtney Delaney, Therese Johnson, and Elizabeth Allen for their help and support.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 P.M., Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Owens Memorial Chapel.  To leave an online memorial message for the family, please visit www.owensmemorialfuneralhome.com .