Obituary

ALOHA OE JOYCE

Joyce Arlene Raymond Morse was born August 27, 1926, in Monroe, WA, to Harry and Gladys Raymond. She spent her early childhood in the Cascade Mountains town of Skykomish, WA. Her family moved to Bellingham, WA, in 1934. After graduating from Bellingham High School & attending art classes at Western Washington College, she married William C. (Bill) Morse in 1947, and settled into adult life. During those years she clerked at a jewelry store, learned the florist trade, & sold Stanley Home Products. She did so well selling Stanley products she and her husband received free trips to Las Vegas two years in a row. Between 1949 & 1954 she had 3 darling daughters, Shelley, Norine, & Leanne.

Her life’s grand adventure began when the Morse family moved to Honolulu, HI, in 1960. Her husband was able to have steady work in the construction industry as a heavy equipment operator. She worked as a jewelry store clerk at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel, where she was thrilled to wait on many celebrities, including Elvis. She enjoyed the American flag and patriotism, playing “Scrabble”, the beach, Hawaiian music, going on picnics around the island of Oahu, and escorting friends and family who visited the islands on an “exclusive” Morse tour of out of the way places. She joined First Baptist Church Honolulu in 1961, and remained there serving lovingly and loyally for the next 53 years. In 1963, she became a charter member of the Hawaii International Ukulele Club, and continued as an active member until she moved to Tulsa, OK, in 2014. Joyce loved Hawaii, it’s people, and absorbed as much of the culture as she could.

After her husband passed away suddenly during a holiday trip back to Bellingham in December 1970, Joyce went to work as a floral designer for Waipahu Florist. As her daughters married and moved to the mainland, her church family became an increasingly important part of her life. She loved travelling and made semi-annual trips to be with all her girls and family in Virginia, Arkansas, Washington, California and Oklahoma. She met her calabash (Hawaiian adopted) daughter, Linda Groth, at church in Hawaii, and they began travelling extensively together around the U.S., Canada, and Europe. One of her most memorable trips was in 2000 when she and Linda attended the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany.

Joyce retired from Waipahu Florist in 1987. She continued to make weekly flower arrangements for Sunday services at FBC Honolulu, and to do freelance work for offices and friends as well as weddings and funerals until well into her eighties.

Although leaving her beloved Hawaii was hard, she quickly adapted to life at University Village in Tulsa, and felt very loved by everyone. She loved her weekly Scrabble matches, and was dubbed the “Bingo Queen” by those who played with her. She was proud to still be walking at a fast enough pace, that it was hard for others to keep up with her. She also enjoyed being able to spend time with her great grandchildren, who called her “Grandma Ama”.

After a brief illness, Joyce passed away in Tulsa, OK, on August 23, 2017, just four days before her 91st birthday. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Shelley & George Turner, Norine & Dean Carr, Leanne & Paul Roy; grandchildren: Elizabeth (Jeremy Black) Turner, Alan & Daniel Turner; Malia (Alexander) Klebanov, Neil (Drue) Carr, Owen (Susan) Carr, Joel (Cassia) Carr; Chris (Tracey) Roy, Kerri (Todd) Sterck, Kevin Roy, & Kurt (Colette) Roy; nephew Estyn (Mary Anne) Mead; niece Margaret (Jim) Davis and grandniece Sarah Mead Sperley; 20 great grandchildren 4 great great grandchildren. She will be remembered for her artistic talents, sense of fashion, and love of God, country, and family.

A graveside service will take place at Greenacres Memorial Park in Ferndale on Sept. 9 at 1:00PM.