Born Thomas Wilma Joyce Carter, she dropped the 'Thomas' part early on and always went by Joyce. She was the youngest of three children born to Alice and Grover Carter during the height of the Great Depression. She was named after her mother's younger twin brother and sister, Wilma and Thomas (Thomas was also Joyce's grandfather's name). Her family always moved around a lot and that got into her blood. She grew up in Alabama, shortly Arkansas, Missouri and Michigan before moving to the Mesa/Phoenix area when she was in high school for a few years. But she graduated in Kalamazoo, then her family returned to Arizona, where she met and married Van Hearn in 1951. They lived there and in Texas and California, until his discharge. After her divorce, she took classes in stenography and bookkeeping. Joyce worked as a bookkeeper, administrative assistant and office manager for many years until retiring. She was a hard worker, never called in sick, paid cash for everything! (She didn't believe in credit cards.) She had a passion for reading (espcially biographies and true crime) sewing (made lots of our clothes and beautiful quilts), hiking (she'd walk for over an hour every morning or up Camelback mountain and back), cooking and trying new recipies (she had a great recipie collection), traveling to places within the US and she visited family in Germany twice with side trips to Paris, Venice and Amsterdam. But her greatest love was of the family. She babysat with the grandchildren for many years and enjoyed spending time with them. Joyce was strong, fiercely independent, loyal, loving and will be sorely missed. Joyce never complained and had a great sense of humor. She is survived by two daughters, five grandchildren and (so far) six great grandchildren. Mom, you will live on in our hearts forever.
Born Thomas Wilma Joyce Carter, she dropped the 'Thomas' part early on and always went by Joyce. She was the youngest of three children born to Alice and Grover Carter during the height of the Great Depression. She was named after her mother's younger twin brother and sister, Wilma and Thomas (Thomas was also Joyce's grandfather's name). Her family always moved around a lot and that got into her blood. She grew up in Alabama, shortly Arkansas, Missouri and Michigan before moving to the Mesa/Phoenix area when she was in high school for a few years. But she graduated in Kalamazoo, then her family returned to Arizona, where she met and married Van Hearn in 1951. They lived there and in Texas and California, until his discharge. After her divorce, she took classes in stenography and bookkeeping. Joyce worked as a bookkeeper, administrative assistant and office manager for many years until retiring. She was a hard worker, never called in sick, paid cash for everything! (She didn't believe in credit cards.) She had a passion for reading (espcially biographies and true crime) sewing (made lots of our clothes and beautiful quilts), hiking (she'd walk for over an hour every morning or up Camelback mountain and back), cooking and trying new recipies (she had a great recipie collection), traveling to places within the US and she visited family in Germany twice with side trips to Paris, Venice and Amsterdam. But her greatest love was of the family. She babysat with the grandchildren for many years and enjoyed spending time with them. Joyce was strong, fiercely independent, loyal, loving and will be sorely missed. Joyce never complained and had a great sense of humor. She is survived by two daughters, five grandchildren and (so far) six great grandchildren. Mom, you will live on in our hearts forever.
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Forever In Our Hearts, Beloved Mother & Grandmother
Gravesite Details
She was cremated and buried with her parents as per her wish.
