Joyce Benson Fox was born on July 6th, 1930, she passed away on the morning of her birthday, 2014, to celebrate with loved ones in heaven.
This elect lady lived a life of service and friendship to all she came in contact with. Early in her life she was told that she would spend a lifetime of service to others and indeed she fulfilled that calling.
Joyce spent a joyous childhood in Cedar City. She was born to Zoella Palmer Benson and LaMont Benson; she was always close to her parents. Her siblings Ken Benson and Norma Benson Pollitt were her best friends.
She enjoyed going to Duck Creek, and other areas in the mountains, fishing with her dad. He called her, "Dot," which was short for daughter. Joyce and her mother shared a special friendship; she tirelessly took care of her during the last 11 years of her life.
Joyce enjoyed spending time with her extended family; she often visited her aunts and uncles in Parowan and remained close to them throughout her life. She enjoyed spending time with the familyand spoke often about her happy childhood.
Joyce was a talented woman in many areas. She worked most of her life in various capacities. She worked in the accounting office at Iron Mountain during the 50's. Joyce graduated from B.A.C., in Cedar City and the U. of U. She had the opportunity to live in Hawaii and worked there for 3 years at the Dole Pineapple company.
Joyce then moved to Washington, D.C., where she worked for Senator Wallace Bennett, Sr. She often traveled throughout the globe with her mother and sister; she said that these were some of the favorite memories of her life. Joyce worked as the Executive Secretary for the State Board of Regents in Salt Lake City for 30 years. She enjoyed this work and especially loved the people she worked with. Her excellent writing skills were put to use as she worked tirelessly composing family history and working on genealogy. She leaves her family a rich legacy of family history and encouraged them to be involved in that work. She wrote, "We are all proud of and appreciate the heritage and opportunities that our progenitors' blessed us with."
In 1968 Joyce married Hal Fox. She was happy to welcome his children, Jim, Nancy Jane and Carolyn, as her own. She dearly loved her children and became their mother in every sense of the word. Her daughter, Carolyn, died at an early age in 1975, her son Jim died in 1993. Hal died in 2012. She had seven grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. Joyce devoted herself to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She spent the last 2 years in the loving care of Nancy Jane.
Joyce was especially close with her brother and sister and became a "second mother" to her nieces and nephews; her 7 nieces and nephews were as close to her as children could be. She was fiercely loyal to family and served them well.
Joyce was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, she specifically noted the "sweet, healing influences of prayer."
We who remain can best show our respect for Joyce by emulating her patient works of consistent, dedicated service to others as well as her love of family.
Services will be Saturday, July 12, 2014 at 11:00 am in the East Millcreek 11th Ward, 2702 East Evergreen Ave, SLC, where a viewing will be held from 9:30 to 10:45am. Interment will take place in Cedar City Cemetery at 5:00pm following the services under the direction of Larkin Mortuary.
