Joyce Maynes Heisig

On Wednesday February 12, 2020, Joyce Burton Maynes Heisig, parent, educator, actor, artist, pilot, golfer, traveler, and a good friend to all, passed away at the age of 88. Joyce, known as Joy to all who knew her, was born in Glendale, California on November 11, 1931. Her father was Wesley Bancroft Burton and her mother was Mary Genevieve Burton. Joy is also survived by her half-sister Beverly Olson.

Joy is survived by her children, Paul and Janice Shahzade, her son Dan preceding her in death. Joy is also survived by her granddaughter Richelle Browkaw and her two great grandchildren, Kaylie and Alex.

She survived three husbands, Edward Shahzade, Don Heisig, and Byron Maynes. Joy also embraced her step children, Don and Linda Heisig, Piper Heisig, Diane and Jerry Franzen, John and Judy Maynes, and Paul Maynes and his partner Gabie Reiter.

Joy received a Bachelors Degree at Fresno State and taught for 28 years. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma. Joy perceived a need for the support of early childhood education and focused her considerable energy into teaching and supporting other teachers. Desiring to do more, she obtained a Masters Degree, and then completed a Doctorate in Education. She would fly her plane from Fresno to Stockton weekly to finish the work on her doctorate and only had to crash one plane before obtaining her degree.

On November 6, 1986, Joy married Don Heisig after a long romance. Don and Joy lived in Fresno, California for many years before moving to Cascadel Woods, near North Fork, California. Joy immediately integrated into the community, making friends, joining the artist’s community and participating in Tai Chi classes.

After Don’s death in November of 2004, Joy lived briefly in Fresno before moving to Cambria and eventually meeting Byron “Buddy” Maynes. Joy and Buddy were married in March of 2011 and moved to Rossmoor in Walnut Creek.

In Rossmoor Joy quickly became active in golfing, dancing, the Painting Club, the Mindful Living Club, and the Grace Presbyterian Church. Joy and Buddy shared painting, dancing, and family until his death in 2014.

Joy stayed at Rossmoor, making new friends daily until December 2019. She moved back to Fresno to be near her family until her death on February 12, 2020.

Fresno services will be at the Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home on March 7, 2020 at 1 PM Walnut Creek Services will be at The Dollar House at Rossmoor Walnut Creek on March 21, 2020 from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Remembrances may be sent to Hinds Hospice of Fresno, Grace Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek, or to Al-Anon Family Groups in Virginia Beach, Virginia.