Birth date: Dec 22, 1931 Death date: Dec 17, 2015
Joyce Olivia “Akins” Ward 83, passed away peacefully on December 17, 2015 in Olympia Wa. She was born in Talihina, Oklahoma on December 22, 1931. She moved to Washington State with her family as a young child and grew up in Tacoma Read Obituary
I have so many wonderful memories of my Auntie Joyce there is not enough room for them. I will just say how much I love her and how my mother will miss her. She always said if it hadn't been for Auntie Joyce mom would not have made it through life. I love you Auntie.
She was like a mother to me. I met her daughter Lori at age 15 and momma Joyce took me under her wings right away. It was as if we had always known each other. She always invited me to all family events. In past visits at the hospital she would introduce me to the nurses as her adopted daughter.
I have spent a lot of time with her and I know she loved me. She was a great friend as well. I could always make her laugh. I will miss her so much. Every time I would come over she always have her beautiful smile and say she was so happy to see me. When I would go to leave I would always give her a hug and kiss and tell her I love her. She would say..... I love you too babe, or love you too sis and still have that beautiful smile on when I would leave. She had a very beautiful and unconditional love and was always kind to me. I love you momma; until we meet again!
Love from your adopted daughter, Bobbie❤️
To Lori and Joyce's family
Lori hired me in September as a caregiver for Joyce to spend one day a week with her. We were planning on more days.
So on Friday mornings I would be there to help her take a shower, feed her and then we both watched 'Supernatural' and agreed that Dean was just the best looking guy ever.
We had a great time, she was such a friendly and sweet person. She found her way into my heart immediately, I will always remember her.
My heart goes out to Lori who provided a safe and happy home for her mother. Angie
I have so many memories of my wonderful Grandma Ward. One of my earliest is hiding under her grape vine in the backyard. She always kept a beautiful and meticulously maintained yard that provided hours of entertainment for me as a child. I remember being allowed into her big huge closet and trying on her high heels and wearing her robes and her laughing with me. I remember her pink room that I would sleep in when I stayed with her and how I was scared about the ladder that went into the attic in the closet and she told me not to worry about it, grandma always made me feel safe. I remember playing in the front entry room and playing little bunny foo foo with my cousins Melissa and Vanessa, grandma loved to have her family with her. I remember eating watermelon on the front porch and then being reminded to not spit the seeds on the porch but into the bushes and flowers, grandma taught me to respect property. I remember her apple trees and her canning apples and making pies with her never fail pie crust recipe, grandma taught me the value of things made at home. I remember her pantry and being amazed at all the stuff in it and going and getting the little red footstool from the mud room to get a snack on a top shelf, grandma taught me to always have a stocked pantry and be prepared. I remember sitting around her big giant table in the formal dining room and feeling like a grown up. I remember her amazing bay window with the window seat and I would want to hide in it. I remember sneaking into her buffet and looking at all her cool stuff like jars of buttons and pictures of people I didn't know but were my blood from long before, I remember being sneaky and going into her secretary desk and getting caught and saying a lie "I couldn't find a band aid" which obviously wouldn't be in her desk and then her telling me that I shouldn't be a fibber, grandma taught me a lot about being honest. I remember sneaking into her closet in her room and hiding in there and watching the light from the windows in her closet change color and it seemed like a safe and magical place. I remember her saying "now come over here and give grandma a smooch" and I would give her kisses. I remember reading her Agatha Christie mystery books while laying on the floor by her pipe stand, grandma taught me the value of reading and imagination. I remember taking baths in her big giant claw foot bathtub and thinking I was a princess. I remember going into the basement and seeing years of hard work lined up on shelves in the form of canned goods, grandma was always prepared. I remember calling her on the phone and ask her for advice and she was always encouraging me to work hard and stay strong, and so I did and I learned the value of hard work and the strength within yourself. I remember visiting with her and going "thrifting" and shop and thrift stores and grandma taught me the value of a dollar and making it stretch. She had a warm loving heart, a kind generous spirit, compassion and grace. My
Grandma, she may have passed on in body, but she is here in all of us everyday. Death is just a horizon and a horizon is nothing more than the limit of our own earthly sight. I love you grandma and I know you are above watching down as our guardian from above.
Loving mother and my best friend, she always took care of me and gave me unconditional love and the wisest advice.
