Remembering Grandma Jones

Joyce Evelyn Porter Jones

1928-2011

Joyce Evelyn Porter Jones passed away on August 5, 2011 surrounded by her loved ones. Joyce was born in Lamesa, Texas on April 9, 1928 to Ray and Iva Porter. She was the third daughter and middle child. She spoke of her growing-up years as happy ones despite the Great Depression and Dust Bowl that gripped the country.

When Joyce was 14, her family moved to Odell, Oregon where she attended high school and met her future husband, Wayne Jones. After graduating from high school, she moved to Seattle with her sisters Veda and Donnie and went to school to be a Beauty Technician; achieving one of her dreams.

She married Wayne on April 4, 1949 in San Diego and became a Navy bride. Their little family soon grew to include daughter Brenda, sons Gary and Ron, and daughter Margo.

Joyce loved to spend time with her friends and family and spent her lifetime nurturing relationships with all those she came in contact with. As we have spent time with her over the last couple of years, we have heard many stories and seen many pictures of the people whose lives she has touched.

In 1971, Wayne and Joyce moved to Washington where they built a business (S&W Construction) and made many friends. Over the last decade they have spent their time together at home.

Joyce loved poetry and had several of her poems published. She was a lefty and could write in mirror image, a trick that greatly amused her grandchildren. She loved to work in her garden and had beautiful flowers. She loved the color lavender, fishing for salmon and gospel music. She was also known to tap her toe anytime she felt the beat of a good country-western song. She loved her family. She hated her freckles; she remembered praying as a child that God would take her freckles away. She loved to sew and embroider, before her eyesight kept her from it. Joyce was a wonderful grandmother, who always took the time to be with her grandchildren. She loved to help them with craft projects. No trip to Grandma’s was complete without a treasure sent home. Joyce was a treasure to all of her grandchildren.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband Wayne. They were married for 62 years and he has lovingly and carefully cared for her during these last hard years. She is also survived by her children: Brenda (Tim) Homer of Salt Lake City, Gary (Betty) Jones of Tacoma, Ron (Michelle) Jones of Yelm and Margo (Ed) Kittle of Packwood. Grandma will also live on in the hearts of her eight grandchildren, their spouses and her 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews who were like extra children to her.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Veda White, Donnie Tieman, Nita Miles and by her brother Olen Porter.

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For posterity's sake, Joyce will be buried on Monday, August 15th at the Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, Washington.

Her grandchildren are:

Tammy (Neal) Sartain, University Place, Washington

Ali (Jeff) Hymer, University Place, Washington

Rebekah (Matt) Pierce, Centerville, Utah

Maurice (Deanna) Ball, Olympia, Washington

Jeffery Kittle, Washington

Benjamin (Shanna) Homer, West Jordan, Utah

Tawnya (Dave) Dopita, Park City, Utah

Gregory (Sarah) Homer, Columbus, Ohio

Great-Grandchildren Include:

Jade Hymer

Marisa Ball

Aidan Sartain

Erin Pierce

Solana Sartain

Allison Pierce

Morrison Ball

Mason Ball

Leah Homer

Jack Pierce

Elizabeth Homer

Andrew Homer

Lily Dopita

Abigail Homer

William Pierce