Leona Joyce Howard Johnson, 82, passed away on Monday, May 9, 2016 in Peoria, Arizona.
Joyce was born on May 25, 1933 in Garland, Utah to Maurice Robert Howard and Venna Bishop Howard. She married Carl Wendell Johnson Aug. 7, 1959 in the Logan LDS Temple.
Joyce and Wendell had three children: a daughter, Sherri, and two sons, David and Scott. Joyce was a stay at home mother (while teaching school at night) who loved and nurtured her children. She was a home room mother for each child at various times and taught them the importance of education, striving for excellence, and never giving up.
Joyce served faithfully in the LDS Church in many capacities including Relief Society President and teacher, Primary Teacher and Presidency Counselor, Ward In-service Development Teacher, and Pianist. She also was a big supporter of scouting and served as an 11-year old scout leader for several years. Joyce fulfilled a service mission with Wendell at the LDS Phoenix Employment Center from 2007-2009.
In addition to raising her family and her church service, Joyce enjoyed a successful and well decorated career as a public educator. She graduated from Utah State University in 1955, where she served as an officer of Kappa Delta, and taught at Murray High School for seven years. She taught English at night school for the Milwaukee Institute of Technology in 1962 and also taught night school business classes for the Phoenix Union High School District until 1967. She then taught night school at Glendale Community College until 1975. She worked as a substitute teacher for the Phoenix Union High School District for several years and in 1980 she started teaching full-time for the district for the next 19 years. For 12 of those years she was on the Arizona State Planning Board representing the Business Teachers for the annual Technology Conference held each summer in Tucson, Arizona. In 1993 she received the Arizona Outstanding Cooperative Office Education Award. In 1996, she received the Arizona Outstanding Business Educator of the year Award, and in 1997 she received the Western Region Outstanding Business Educators Award for High School Teachers. While receiving these awards was a nice public recognition for her efforts, her true joy came from making a positive influence in the lives of the many students she taught.
Joyce loved people and had a very big heart. She always looked for opportunities to serve others. One of her biggest acts of service was when she assisted Wendell as he went through his many physical challenges.
Joyce lived a full life and touched the lives of many people. We will miss Joyce dearly.
Joyce was predeceased by her husband, Wendell, and is survived by their three children, Sherri (and Michael) Waldron, David (and Rose) Johnson and Scott (and Gina) Johnson; their foster daughter, Ramona Begay; their 11 grandchildren; their four great grandchildren; and Joyce's sister, Lorraine Howard Bagley, and brother, Robert Reese Howard.
Funeral services for Joyce will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2016, 3:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah, where friends may visit from 1:30-2:30 p.m. prior to services. Please send condolences to the family at www.larkinmortuary.com.
