Joyce was born June 21st, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Lewis Tempest and Laureta Snarr
Ellsworth. Her parents love for each other assured a home filled with fun and affection. The family enjoyed a charming and close knit neighborhood on Claremont where she was adored and tormented by her three younger brothers Jim, Lynn, and Steven. She enjoyed tennis, skiing, and golf. As a young girl, Joyce developed a love of dance which she later pursued at the University of Utah and continued to enjoy and advocate for throughout her life. Joyce attended Uintah Elementary, Roosevelt Junior High, and East High Schools. While a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma at the "U,\" she met her husband John Marvin Rapp who on their first date exclaimed "I am going to marry you". They married six months later on November 9th, 1951and began an adventurous life living in Ohio, Wyoming, Salt Lake City, Colorado, Northern California, and finally Brazil before returning to Salt Lake. Joyce loved being a mother and was very active in her children's lives. She enjoyed living near and having a family membership at the Cottonwood Club, playing tennis and enjoying the social events as a family. John and Joyce were so proud of the contemporary home John designed and built in 1963 on Baywood Drive. The sunken en-trance and large living area was a familiar open door and gathering place for family and friends.
Joyce had a very busy life that was enriched by many close friends and organizations. This included membership in and service to: WIGS, Five Fools, Sewing Club, Owl and Fork, numerous Bridge Clubs, The Town Cub, The Alta Club, The Country Club, The Cottonwood Club, The Salt Lake Junior League, Women's Legislative Council, League of Women Voters, Planned Parent-hood, Ladies Democratic Club, and serving on the board of the Utah Museum of Modern Art. Joyce returned to the "U of U" at the age of 40 to earn a Bachelors in Health Science. She was so proud and honored to act as co-chair at the University of Utah Women's Conference in 1978. She and John loved traveling the world as well as playing bridge, earning Life Master status in duplicate bridge.
Joyce "Nana" most enjoyed reminiscing with family and friends and could easily recite the connections between family, school, and friends for generations past. She adored her three "perfect" grandchildren Ashley, Paige, and Clark and was even more enchanted by her great-grandchildren Lily and Parker Brown with whom she delighted in doting on and loving for the last 2 1/2 years. They gave her immeasurable joy. As the matriarch of the family, she relished in every moment of an Ellsworth family reunion at Thanksgiving of 2014.
She is preceded in death by her husband John Marvin Rapp and son John Ellsworth Rapp. Survived by her daughters Karen Rapp (Dale Dean) and Denise Rapp, grandchildren Ashley Brown (Mike Brown), Paige Smith, and Clark Smith (Tiffany Chen) great-grandchildren Lily Brown and Parker Brown. Brothers Jim Ellsworth (Penny), Lynn Ellsworth (Kay), and Steven Ellsworth (Gale) and many dear and adoring nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Services will be held Saturday, April 18, 2015 at 11:00 AM in the Larkin Sunset Lawn Funeral Home (2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City).
I lieu of flowers, donations can be made to an organization of choice. Memorial services and celebration of life are pending. Condolences can be shared at www.Larkinmortuary.com.
