Joyce grew up in Detroit, playing field hockey in High School and working with her dad at their family corner store. Joyce married Edward Leo Mullin Jr.(Ted) on August 27, 1949 and they settled in the Lansing area. Over the next 10 years, Ted worked a lot of jobs and Joyce birthed 8 healthy children.
They relocated to Mason where Joyce was VERY active in St. James Catholic Church and Scouting in Mason. She influenced many lives being a Girl Scout and Cub Scout leader as well as a religious education teacher. She marched in many Mason holiday parades and braved many camp outs and adventures through scouting. Joyce started the ‘Prayer Shawl Ministry” at St. James church. Joyce worked at the Dancers Department Store and later the Wares Drug Store in Mason.
When the kids were all grown, Joyce and Ted retired to Lovells, Michigan to live by the AuSable river. Grandchildren visited in the summer and went on many canoeing and camping adventures. Joyce loved to sit by the river crocheting and reading, but remained very active through the Cheerful Givers Club (making quilts) and she was a trustee for Lovells Township for 4 years. After 38 years in Lovells, Joyce and Ted returned to Mason to be closer to family.
Joyce is survived by her eight children: Edward Leo III (Barbara)Mullin, Elizabeth (James) Philo, Kathleen Bailey, Michael (Elaine) Mullin, Mary (John) Every, Daniel (Robin) Mullin, Ann (Mike) Dunivon, and Brian Mullin and fiancé Lori Lake; 25 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; her sister Irene Hoyer and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 69+ years Edward Leo Mullin Jr.; her parents Ralph (Edith) Birchall; her brother Ralph Birchall; her son-in-law Curtiss Bailey; 2 grandsons George Dunivon and Daniel Mullin Jr; and great grandson Kurt Every.
Joyce was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be sadly missed but will live on in our hearts forever!
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from 3PM – 7PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home in Mason with a Rosary service at 6PM. The funeral mass will be celebrated at St. James Catholic Church in Mason on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 11:00AM, with one hour visitation before. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery in Mason.
The family would appreciate any memorial contributions to be made out to the Careline Hospice Foundation 801 Rosehill Rd. Jackson, MI 49202 for the excellent hospice care given to Mom over the past few years.
