Joyce Jane Maley

Joyce Jane (Adams) Maley, 88, made her triumphal entry into Heaven, hand-in-hand with Jesus, on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024, after a brief illness. Joyce’s desire to see Jesus face-to-face was fulfilled.

She was born to Jesse and Ruby Adams on November 14, 1935, in Monte Vista, Colorado. Joyce married her darling husband and sweetheart, Tillman (Bud) Maley, on June 22, 1956, in Canon City, Colorado; and they celebrated over 64 precious years together. She was blessed with two children.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband and parents; and a brother, Robert Adams. Joyce is survived by her daughters Connie Sjogren of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Susanne Maley-Logan of Littleton, Colorado; Grandchildren Zachary Sjogren, Nikki (Brian) Grablin, Sara (Benji) Barela, Shanna Logan (Mike Peck), Seth Logan (Natalie Bordan), Summer (Tyler) Chewning; Great-grandchildren Karson Sjogren; Jaxon, Mason, and Aubri Grabin. She is also survived by her childhood and lifelong best friend, Rozella Long, Denver, Colorado. Also, her precious little baby and furry friend, Buster (Blue Dog), whom Joyce deeply loved and adored.

Joyce graduated from Monte Vista High School with honors in June 1954. She moved to Colorado Springs to attend Blair Business College, on a one-year Business scholarship, graduating in June 1955. She completed a four-year Bible College correspondence course, and graduated in 1969 as a Consecrated Deaconess of the Nazarene Church. Joyce was a legal secretary and paralegal for many years in Monte Vista and Pueblo, Colorado.

When Joyce was five years old, she contracted a serious illness, Undulant Fever. She could no longer walk, was bed-bound for months, and wasn’t expected to survive. The Pastor of the Nazarene Church anointed Joyce. Shortly after, she got up and was able to walk and shocked everyone. At a very young age Joyce had a deep desire to serve the Lord and the Church in any way that she could. She began singing Christian songs on the radio in Monte Vista and her prize was a candy sucker. After she became an ordained Deaconess, Joyce held a week-long revival in 1969 in the East Detroit Church of the Nazarene (Bud’s church). She continued to work for the Lord visiting many in nursing homes, taught Sunday School classes, helping anywhere she could.

There was nothing that Joyce enjoyed more than ice fishing with Bud at 11 Mile Reservoir, which was their happy place, and she actually taught him everything he knew. She really enjoyed frying and canning fish and making her incredibly delicious salmon patties. She also took great pleasure in beautifying their yard and it was gorgeous. Joyce loved cooking and picnicking outside in the backyard with the entire family, and no one made a better Raspberry-Rhubarb pie than our Mom/Granny.

Joyce had an unshakeable faith in God that came from a precious Christian heritage. She loved and treasured Bud, Connie, and Susie, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They all brought her great joy, life was always full of laughing and fun, and she always wanted them to be near.

Joyce dearly loved her church family and especially Pastor Jim Murray, as the son she never had. She was one of the kindest and friendliest souls anyone could ever have met. She left an unforgettable legacy of love intertwined with the love of Jesus!

She will be greatly missed by her family and all that knew her!