Grandma Joyce

Grandma Joyce passed away Wednesday Apr. 2, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. I can't believe how fast it went. She was diagnosed with stage 4 Pancreatic cancer on Easter Sunday. Almost all of her posterity came to see her during those 10 days. We are so grateful for her influence in our lives. Below is a tribute that my sister Sara wrote and put on her blog.

Claudia Joyce Smith was born on May 4th 1928 in Glenwood Alberta Canada, to Grover and Pearl Thomas. As a young woman she loved to dance and even in her old age she would pull us into her kitchen, crank up the music and get us to dance with her:) She was married and divorced twice and had five children. She then met a wonderful man, Brian Smith in her later years. Joyce and Brian were married in 1985 and had many wonderful years together before Brian passed away in 1997. Grandma made many wonderful memories in her later years, including trips to Spain, Israel, and Oahu and Maui Hawaii. She loved to see and try new things and was always up for an adventure. She was always an active member of the church, even when life was hard and others may have given up. Even at 79 years old she fulfilled her calling as Achievement Day leader and always had really fun things for the girls to do. She loved the Lord and her savior Jesus Christ. She was such an example of unconditional and Christlike love. She always made time to sit and talk with you and make you feel like you were the most important person on earth. She was a wonderful cook and fabulous hostess, I hope that I have gained even a little bit of her talent in this area. I have been so blessed live so close to her for the past few years. We all love you and will really miss you grandma!