Helen Joyce Attwood

Joyce “Joy” Nickell Attwood passed away peacefully on December 11, 2012 at her home in the Rockwood Retirement Community with her husband, Wayne Attwood by her side. Joy was born on October 11, 1930 in Smith Center, Kansas the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. I.E. Nickell. She was raised in Smith Center and attended grade school and high school there. She went on to higher education at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas. There she seriously pursued her long-standing passion in the visual arts. Her principle interest was in the design and creation of one of a kind jewelry pieces. Although Joy and Wayne had been raised in the same small town and were friends since the age of 3 and 4, it was at the University that they realized they were soul mates and that led to their marriage on December 9, 1951. Their union produced 3 wonderful children, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

While Wayne completed his medical training, Joy was active in pursuing her artistic talents. Her unique style of jewelry has been collected privately and has appeared in shows and galleries nationally and internationally. Joy and Wayne moved to Spokane with their three children in July of 1963. In spite of the demands of raising three children, Joy became very active in the Spokane art community. She was particularly active in the Spokane Art School, having served on its board. She taught many classes and inspired her students to love and pursue the arts. In 1972 Joy opened a jewelry design studio as one of the original shop owners in Second City, and she inspired others to join in this unique venture. Other demands on her time prompted her to sell the successful shop in 1974 and she pursued the creation of her unique style of jewelry in her studio in her home. One of her great delights in later years was creating and giving beaded bracelets and necklaces to friends, family, and anyone who needed joy. She gave away nearly 300 bracelets.

In addition to her deep involvement in the art community she also was very active in the Spokane YWCA, where she served on its board and in the Girl Scouts, where she was a co-leader of a troop. The troop went on many exciting adventures including a 100 mile round trip bicycle ride from Spokane to Farragut State Park in Idaho. She was involved in many activities relative to her children’s schooling. She was a member of “The Assistants, Inc.” of Spokane and very active in the church, initially at the Central Christian Church and subsequently at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Spokane.

Joy is survived by her loving husband, Wayne Attwood, with whom she recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary; by their three children and spouses, Lynn Attwood and his wife Loren of Salt Lake City, UT, Michele Attwood and her partner Jim Templeton of Vancouver, WA and Denise Attwood and her husband Ric Conner of Spokane, WA; five grandchildren, Kira Attwood, Amy Attwood-Charles, Brian Attwood, Emily Attwood and Cameron Attwood Conner; two great-grandchildren Owen Becker and Lila Joy Becker. Also, her brother Wendell Nickell of Salina, Kansas.

A “Celebration of Joy” will be held at 2 pm on January. 11, 2013 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 4340 Fort George Wright Drive, Spokane 99224. In lieu flowers donations may be made to the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, "The MAC", www.northwestmuseum.org/ .,"The Matthew Girvin Scholarship Fund" at the Northwest Community Foundation www.inwcf.org or the Unitarian Universalist Church.