Joyce Degolier Davis

Joyce DeGolier Davis passed away at Williamsburg Retirement Community in Logan on December 1, 2013. She is greatly missed by all of her friends and relatives, children and grandchildren. For those of us who knew her, she was a shining light of compassion and service to her community, a legacy for us all to follow.

Joyce was born on October 24, 1922 in Amery, Wisconsin. She was the third child of four that were born to Hazel and Ross DeGolier. She grew up in Pine River, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison. It was at the Baptist student organization that she met the love of her life, a young lieutenant named Donald Davis. They were married on August 3, 1943 in Saxeville, Wisconsin. After only five months of marriage, Don was shipped overseas to Europe and Joyce returned to Wisconsin to finish her degree in Social Work. After the war ended, they moved to California to be near his family while he completed his PhD in Entomology.

The young couple moved to Logan in 1954 when Don accepted a position at Utah State Agricultural College. They made Cache Valley their home for the remainder of their lives. In addition to raising six children, Joyce was actively involved in the local community. At Logan’s First Presbyterian Church, she was active in the church women’s group by serving as president twice, served on the board of deacons and elders, and served on the National Presbyterian General Assembly Peace and Social Justice Committee. Within the community, Joyce was involved in several community activities, including spearheading a migrant worker’s children education program, a high school youth center, Habitat for Humanity, League of Women Voters, and consumer advocacy. She was honored for her volunteerism several times, including a Governor’s Volunteer Award in 1980, a Community Action Director’s Award in 1981, a Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in Community Service and Personal Achievement by the Women’s Center at Utah State University in 1990, and a Utah Women’s Achievement Award for a lifetime of contribution and service in 1998.

Joyce lost her lifelong partner and husband in June 2011 after almost 68 years of marriage. Since then, she lived quietly at home, visited by friends, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Filled with love, joy and gratitude, she knew her time here on earth was coming to an end. She attempted, without much success, to prepare her loved ones for the inevitable time when she would join her husband, parents, brothers and sister in heaven.

Joyce is survived by sons, Kenneth (Lucy), Alan (Sharon) and Paul (Mary Ann); daughters, Marjorie (Tracy) Mascher and Eileen (Uzo) Otti; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Don; and one son, Charles.

A graveside service for family and friends was held Thursday, December 5, at the Logan Cemetery. A memorial service for Joyce will be held at 3 p.m. on January 11, 2014, at the First Presbyterian Church in Logan. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the building fund at First Presbyterian Church of Logan. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.allenmortuaries.net