March 20, 1936 – February 8th 2023
Joyce was born in Seattle Washington to Walter and Evelyn Wall.
She grew up in Seattle and graduated from Ballard High school then went on to Western Washington College in Bellingham. During her high school and college years she was a dance instructor at a studio in Ballard. Dance was a very important part of her life. After graduating college with her teaching degree in 1957, she moved to Mercer Island then Bellevue near Phantom Lake. Joyce worked for the Bellevue School district first as a para educator and then as an English Language Learner teacher for over 20 years. She retired in 1999.
Joyce met her husband John during her college years at Western. They married in 1955 at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church in Seattle Washington. They were married for 61 years. Their travels included trips to Reno and Las Vegas where Joyce was always a lucky winner. Their happy place was at the beach on the Oregon coast at Lincoln City.
Joyce loved flowers and tending to her garden. Every year on Mother’s Day was a new opportunity for fuchsia baskets that she would hang with pride in her back yard. She enjoyed the hummingbirds that the flowers would bring. During the years raising her children, she was very involved in Campfire girls with Corey and following both Kevin and Corey to their soccer and track meet sporting events. During her retirement years she joined ADK, a sorority for retired educators. She was a very active member and loved knowing that her efforts were going towards helping students with scholarship money. She was passionate about education. Joyce looked forward to every family event and made sure that we all made family a priority. She loved celebrating birthdays.
Joyce is survived by her son Kevin Crooks; Laurie Crooks and daughter Corey Cooley. Three beloved grandchildren, Carson Crooks; Mackenzie Crooks, Conner Crooks and Jordan Cooley and 1 great grandchild Callahan Crooks. Her sister Sharon McCrae and her children Kris Ridley and Mike McCrae.
Joyce was the kindest person you will ever meet, she was a Lady with exceptional values and she loved bright lipstick. We will miss her deeply and keep her kind spirit forever in our hearts.
Our thanks to the staff at Swedish hospital in Issaquah. They treated her as one of their own and we are forever grateful.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17