Kathryn Joyce Worsencroft Ball

“She lived a life more glorious than she could have ever imagined,” said a close family friend when she learned that Joyce had passed. Anyone who watched the young Joyce Worsencroft’s humble beginnings would need quite a crystal ball to predict that she would live such a full life of love, adventure and experiences beyond her fondest dreams.

Kathryn Joyce Worsencroft Ball was born on November 21, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah, an only daughter of Leland and Kathryn Jensen Worsencroft and little sister to three older brothers. She died of causes incident to age on November 29, 2021, barely a week after her 88th birthday surrounded by her loving family.

While attending the University of Utah, Joyce worked in the old ZCMI Department Store as the elevator operator and model. She met the love of her life, the handsome Fred S. Ball, in that elevator as he was working in the ZCMI men’s hat department. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on July 2, 1953. They had a very special, loving bond for 65 years that generated great affection, respect, friendship and happiness. They were a team. A great team! Joyce began her lifetime career of caring for their four daughters. After 5 years in San Francisco, the family returned to Salt Lake in 1966 and Fred took a new position as the President of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. Throughout his 25 years at the Chamber, Fred enlisted Joyce’s support in the many projects that they both were involved with. Joyce’s social and entertaining skills were a huge asset to all of these ventures.

Always active in the LDS church, Joyce served as president of the Relief Society and Primary. She was called as the Assistant Director of Church Hosting at Temple Square for seven years where she met and hosted visiting dignitaries from throughout the world. Her zest for life, her exuberate personality, her beauty and demeanor made her a gracious and enthusiastic hostess.

Joyce was a great traveler and enjoyed visiting various parts of the world. She and Fred made at least one foreign trip every year for over 25 years.

Joyce's life revolved around her family. She deeply loved her husband, her four daughters, her sons-in-law and her precious and adored grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her home was always open and the site for regular family gatherings of the “thundering herd.”

Joyce and her four daughters, Kathryn Kristy, Kimberly and Karalyn had a special bond. Each year Joyce would host a girl’s trip where they could visit, shop, eat and repeat. The "Ball Girls" would look forward to this annual event with great anticipation and Joyce loved making the plans for their adventures.

"Nana" had a special meaning for Joyce. She loved being a grandmother and her grandchildren always knew they had a great support system in their Nana. She never missed a game, recital, play, concert, performance, talk, ordinance or any event where a grandchild was involved. If they performed in a play that presented eight performances, she would be front and center for all eight presentations. She exhibited great pride in the many accomplishments of her precious offspring and always let them know of her great pride.

Nana was preceded in death by her husband, Fred S. Ball, her parents and her three brothers, James, Jerry and John Worsencroft. She is survived by her daughters, Kathryn (Mark) Van Wagoner; Kristy (Richard) Dibblee; Kimberly (John) Dahlstrom) and Karalyn (Howard) Diederich; 16 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren with 5 more on the way.

Joyce’s family would like to extend their deepest appreciation and love to Kim Gladstone and the Staff of Spring Garden’s Senior Living where Joyce has resided for the past 15 months. They loved our mother with great care and she loved them back. We are so grateful for their devotion to her so we could spend our time just loving her.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Visitation at 11:00 a.m. and Service at Noon. Burial will be at Salt Lake City Cemetery.