1949 ~ 2026
Joyce Sue Shirts, age 76 of West Bloomfield, Michigan, and formerly of Utah, California, and Alabama, passed away January 2, 2026. She was born May 15, 1949 in Ogden, Utah to Jordan and Elma Jensen. Joyce was the oldest of five children.
Joyce started her life living in Salt Lake City, Utah, and at the age of six moved to California, settling in Hawthorne. This is where she grew up, enjoying sunny days at the beach, being a drill team captain, and various other school activities.
Joyce graduated from Leuzinger High School in 1967. She studied Elementary Education at El Camino Junior College and enjoyed being involved in the Latter-day Saint Institute of Religion sorority. Later in life she pursued certifications in the medical field.
Joyce married her husband George Hal Shirts December 29, 1971 in the Los Angeles temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Job opportunities took them from California to Utah, where they raised their family of eight children in Orem, American Fork, and Sandy. Joyce was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She spoke fondly of serving children and youth in her church, and was grateful to serve a mission with her husband in her later years in the state of New Jersey.
To describe her, we need look no further than her name. Joyce was an aptly given name. She is described as one who brought joy, excitement, and laughter to any occasion, a loving wife, mother, sister, friend. She had a contagious laugh, and was known for her jokes, pranks, and cheating at card games. She loved to craft, take long drives, and in her later years spent numerous hours making quilts for her grandchildren.
Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, brother Grant Ray Jensen, and son Kevin George Shirts. She is survived by her husband, her siblings Glen Jay Jensen, Peggy Jensen Cappo, Wylene Jensen Ika, her children John Michael Shirts, Janene Shirts Whitaker, Amy Shirts Driscoll, Lisa Shirts Horne, Randy James Shirts, Mark Jared Shirts, Cory Jensen Shirts, and her 19 grandchildren.
Visitation for Joyce will be held on Thursday, January 8 th , beginning at 6:00 p.m., until the time of her Funeral Service at 7:00 p.m., at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills.
Her services will continue on Wednesday, January 14th , beginning with a viewing at 10:30 a.m.,and a service beginning at Noon, at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. Dimple Dell Rd., Sandy,
Utah, where she will be buried.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Joyce’s name can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.