Joyce Marie Taylor (Crow) passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 13th, 2023. She was 92 years old.
Joyce was born on February 8th, 1931, the firstborn daughter to Joseph and Lillie Mable Crow. She endured the addition of three brothers before welcoming a baby sister, making her the eldest of five. Joyce devoted herself to the role of big sister, helping her mother while her father navigated three jobs to support the family, including a job at Alta Ski Resort allowing him to ski with Joyce every Thursday. However, she wasn’t above a little revenge, often chasing her brother around with the vacuum as payment for cutting up her paper dolls.
Eventually, the family settled in a small bungalow on Ramona Avenue outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, a vacant lot separating her home from that of the handsome young man living a block north who often took the shared alleyway as a shortcut. The family dog wasn’t too fond of Lee Taylor, but Joyce took a keen interest, often sharing long talks on the back porch and Snellies and milkshakes at the local ice cream parlor. The two would fall in love and, after Joyce graduated from South High School, would marry in the summer of 1949 in the Idaho Falls Temple, beginning an eternal companionship that would last 74 years.
The couple began their life together “sitting on apple crates” but would soon grow their family into a loving and comfortable home. Joyce welcomed her first son, Paul, in 1952. Joylee would follow in 1956, and David would complete the family in 1962. Joyce raised the children while supporting her husband as he worked all over the country from Minnesota to Missouri, describing the former as a “frozen Hell”. After nearly losing her youngest son to deadly meningitis, Joyce demanded the family return home, and they built their house in Salt Lake City in 1966.
Joyce was a devoted and detailed homemaker. Whatever she set her mind to, she did with perfection. She excelled at cooking, baking, and candy-making. She won the grand prize for knitting at the Utah State Fair on multiple occasions and also availed herself of sewing and embroidery, making everything from her daughter’s wedding dress to a calendar that often had a few numbers rearranged after a visit from the grandchildren. When weather permitted, Joyce was often out working by her husband’s side in their yard. She would load up thousands of annuals to plant every year into the back of her 1984 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser, a vehicle she chose over a Corvette because “it holds all the flowers.” Joyce was also incredibly gifted with music. She studied piano and, in 1973, was given a beautiful organ from her husband. She quickly expanded her musical talents, studying under Robert Cundick and Clay Christiansen, and blessed her local ward with Bach, Handel, and other beautiful sacred music for decades. As her children grew up, Joyce and Lee enjoyed traveling the world, experiencing Italy, Russia, Greece, Canada, and New Zealand. They also enjoyed wintering in St. George, Utah, where Joyce would meticulously work on puzzles and knitting.
Overarching all of this was Joyce’s incomparable love for her family. In 1955, she lost two of her brothers and father in a tragic boating accident. In 1979, Joyce helplessly watched her daughter lose a devastating battle with cancer. She buried her mother, her sister, her remaining brother, and, in 2018, she laid her oldest son to rest saying, “I was here at the beginning, and I will be here until the end.” She was a woman
painfully acquainted with grief. Yet, she transformed it into pure love, emanating nothing but unconditional pride in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She walked side-by-side with her husband, building a bedrock, unbreakable, and inspiring marriage. She was at every event, every family dinner no matter how insignificant, and ensured the Christmas gifts were wrapped in the obligatory chocolate boxes. She established and maintained the standard that this family stays together. She maintains that standard from beyond the veil.
Joyce is preceded in death by her father, Joseph; mother, Lillie Mabel; brothers, Glen, Ernest, and Robert; sister, Diane; son, Paul; and daughter, Joylee. She is survived by her loving husband, Lee; her son David (Marie); her grandchildren, Paul Jr. (Mandy), Alisa, Christopher (Kia), Steven (Lynae), Emilee (Scott); and her great-grandchildren, Paisley, Charlie, Emma, Charlotte, and Grayson.
A viewing will be held on Friday, May 19th, 2023, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM at the East Millcreek 9th Ward (3750 S Hillside Lane Salt Lake City, 84109). A graveside service will follow at noon at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery (3401 S Highland Drive Millcreek, 84106). The family wishes to thank all of those who have assisted in care and support for Joyce and her family during this time.
Guestbook/Condolences
My goodness. I just read a beautiful, well deserved tribute to a talented , gracious lady I had the privilege to know and grow to love over the past 45 years; as a neighbor, ward choir director for which she was the organist in the purest sense, co-lover of music, porch-visiter, political kindred spirit, motorcycle riding buddy of her husband Lee, and much more. Along the way I grew to know and appreciate as well her sons Paul and David, daughter-in-law Marie, Paul’s daughter, several of her other descendants, and of course her husband, whom she sometimes in humor and affection called “Freddy Lee”. In her late years he never left her side—nor she his.
If I related but 1% of the enjoyment, fun, and laughter that we shared, the length of this would exceed that of the novel “War and Peace”, which I have never read but understand is of length, but not enough to accommodate the attempt.
Of Joyce I will miss so many things. But truly wonderful memories of her and of our times together will linger. Bringing to life the words of the poet who said, “If I had a flower for every time I think of you, I could walk through the garden forever”. An image appropriate for Joyce, who loved, planted, and tended beautiful flowers in her yard for us to enjoy—including complete strangers walking by on the road, who commented to her and Lee over the fence as they worked, “you have a beautiful yard”. Yes. They did.
She and Lee had a way, quietly to be sure, of drawing people who wanted to be around them. Sometimes helping them like Pete and Robbin Lund next door, and my wife, Claire, who came to visit in her physical decline and brought dinners and treats as an opportunity to do so. And others like Toni and Paul Wiseman and a host of others who expressed nothing but fondness for them.
As her obituary made clear, she lived a full and wonderful life, bringing grace and enjoyment to others.
I, along with Lee, David, and others left behind will sorely miss her. For that I offer them my heartfelt condolences. But then, she had an unshakable faith in the existence of heavenly beings and reunions with them, for which I am glad.
Lastly, the photo selection of her was excellent in capturing her essence. I think she would have approved, even as meticulous as she was. What a wonderful smile!!
God bless, my dear, and peace. To Lee and family as well.
Dave Barclay.
The Taylor’s were our neighbors all the years I grew up and we love Joyce and Lee. Sending our love to Lee and David at this time.