Joyce Elaine Taylor

Joyce Elaine Taylor

Joyce Taylor passed away suddenly on Sunday, August 4, 2024.

She was born in Chehalis, August 25, 1931, youngest child of Laurence and Lillian Terry, little sister to Jim and Colleen

The family moved to the Yakima Valley as owners of Terry Fuel and Lumber in Outlook. Later they would move to a dairy on Mabton Highway and then in to town where Joyce would graduate from Sunnyside High School with the Class of 1949.

In school Joyce shared her school spirit as a flashy majorette and cheerleader. She planned many class reunions and maintained lifelong friendships with many of her SHS schoolmates.

Joyce loved her friends dearly. Cousins from childhood, workmates, neighbors and dance partners, she  made friends easily and often.

Joyce married Jerry Taylor at the Sunnyside Methodist Church, July 25, 1950, a day they agreed was the hottest  of the year.

The couple would start their family in a little house on Gregory Avenue. Those neighbors became lifelong friends.

In 1960 the Taylor family, now including daughters Debbie, Becky and Kim, moved into a new house on Taylor Street, another neighborhood full of friends and memories. In that house Joyce hosted many parties, celebrations and cooked delicious holiday dinners.

Joyce was active in American Legion Auxiliary and other civic organizations. She supported Jerry’s time on the city council and as mayor of Sunnyside. She continued to attend council meetings and keep an eye on city business.

She is remembered as a great bridge player and bowler, the funnest Rainbow chaperone and an outsanding stage performer with the Lower Valley Musical Comedy and Over the Hill Theatricals.

She worked in asparagus, at the sales yard and in retail. She had some great times working at the Elks, Tillicum and in the Woodies Goodies trailer. She was a  reading volunteer at Washington School and in the gift shop at Sunnyside’s hospital.

Mom/Granny/GG was always available for kid duty, trips in the motor home, playing on the floor, birthday parties, expertly sewing costumes or uniforms or a game of Skip Bo. Christmas was always amazing! She especially loved cheering at games and events. The kids’ friends and teammates will remember that she supported every one of them.

“She was like Las Vegas on a Saturday night.”_HB

Joyce is reunited with her parents, Laurence and Lillian Terry; husband, Jerry Taylor; daughter, Carol Jean Taylor; great grandson Elijah Laurence Paris; brother-in-law John Voss and sister-in-law Lu Terry.

Joyce  will be watching over her brother and sister, James Terry and Colleen Voss; daughters, Debbie Amos (Gary),  Becky Poynter (Dave) and Kim Taylor Morris (Mike); grandchildren Sky Simpson (Todd), Josh Baird, Hannah Baird, Cody Tapia (Felipe), Riley Morris (Bethany), Bailey Dibbert (Jake), Ryan Amos (Jennifer) and Aaron Amos; great-grandchildren Malloree Joyce, Jentry, Scout, Nova, Rayanna, Natalie, Abigail, Irie, Sky, Noah, Grayce, Mercury, Nash, Emmett, Jake, Colby and Kaylee; and great grandsons Oliver and Waylon. Also many dear friends, nieces, nephews and their families.

Oh, and her very naughty kitty, Cindy Loo.

At her request, a “party” for Joyce will be held August 25, 2024, 3 to 8 pm at Wine Country Gardens,     16302 N. Bone Rd., Prosser, WA  99350.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity or  animal shelter.

Family graveside services will be held at the Lower Valley Memorial Garden, Sunnyside, Washington. A celebration of life "Party" will be held on a later date. Those wishing to sign Joyce's online memorial guest book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com    Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joyce Elaine Taylor, please visit our floral store.