It is with heavy hearts we share that our mother, Joyce Winona (Ayers) Armstrong, age 95, passed away June 22, 2026, at home in Buckley, Washington.

Joyce was born May 28, 1931, in Greenville, Illinois, a daughter of the late John Wilbur Ayers and Dorothea Bernhardt Ayers (later Meumann). She is survived by her daughters, her brothers David (Linda) Meumann, Harold (Donna) Meumann, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her sister, Betty (Joseph) Ayers Murphy, as well as brother Richard (Beverly) Meumann.

She and our father (James Edward Wick, passed May 31, 2019) were blessed with four beloved daughters, five precious grandchildren, and four adorable great grandchildren: Sally (Richard) Crane, Sandra (Joe, passed 1997) Stevens, Shirley (Ron) Crim and Sherry (Clark) Weiss. Grandchildren include Michael Crane, Matthew (Tara) Stevens, Kelly (Jake) Stadelman, Sarah Easterling and Ellen Weiss. Her great grandchildren are Sierra and Autumn (Stevens) as well as Graham and Bennett (Stadelman).

Joyce worked the entirety of her adult life until age 72, in the role of Legal Secretary then Paralegal as her known professions since 1968 which is the year we moved from Winthrop Harbor, Illinois to Redlands, California. She was an example on many fronts be it practical or personal in nature. She knew life’s elation, regret and grief, choosing to press on and work through choices of her own making or resultant from others’ choices affecting her life. Her courage, tenacity, wisdom, sense of humor, the determination and influence of her daughters in some instances and a (later) quiet faith helped navigate her journey.

In our younger years, Mom (and Dad) would take us camping, sporting an enormous tent and chuck wagon kitchen setup. Willow Mill Park near the Dells in Wisconsin comes to mind with trout fishing and fun with friends from Winthrop Harbor who camped with us quite often. Flower planting came in spring, lilacs all along the length of our white picket fence, cherry tree and birch. Clothes, sheets and towels on the line with the memorable aromatic thrill when taken down. The Winthrop Harbor Carnival, 4H for the first three sisters and softball for the first two, sledding, ice skating at the Harbor town hall parking lot, tobogganing, card games with Great Grandma Bernhardt and our folks, holidays at ‘Auntie Moms,’ Saturday night hair washing and pin curls, the dreaded hair permanents and the even more dreaded cutting of the bangs by Mom. These and more are just a hint of the many memories we girls have with Mom (and Dad).

Our mother’s passions and hobbies were varied and plentiful: throughout life she adored music of many genres from Big Band and Rat Pack to Rod Stewart, Elton John, ABBA, Tommy Emmanuel - especially his rendition of Classical Gas, a childhood favorite hymn - Little Brown Church in the Vale, Norma Zimmer singing - In The Garden, light opera and instrumentals.

Beauty was adored, in nature as well as the soul of a person as she believed,

“there is something beautiful about everyone.”

She loved to dance and wore exquisite dresses (requiring multiple closets) to twirl and sparkle as she tripped the light fantastic at big band dance clubs. As children, dancing with her in the living room to the following albums was a common activity: Mary Poppins, The Singing Nun, The Flower Drum Song, The Sound of Music as well as cutting the rug with us if American Bandstand was on the TV Saturday morning when she returned from grocery shopping at ‘the Jewel.’

She loved animals, especially cats of which we had many throughout our younger years but more recently Cagney, Lacey and Fluffy who cuddled and watched over her like mother hens. Birds were a fascination to her as well as gardens – the more lush and colorful the better.

Until recent years she was a voracious reader and encouraged a love of the written word in her daughters, resulting in personal libraries in our own homes. When reading became a challenge she pivoted to favorite television programs, viewed nearly every evening after dinner with Shirley and family.

As was the fad in the 70’s she took great pleasure fashioning intricate macrame pieces with knitting projects also finding their way to her project basket. Tole painting was an enjoyable hobby for a time as well. Pretty curtains, some of our childhood attire, bridesmaid gowns, prom dresses, amazing Halloween costumes and everything in between, her skill as a seamstress was unmatched.

A love of adventure transported her to Europe, Alaska, Hawaii and throughout the continental United States via planes, trains and automobiles – and motorcycles! Sunshine and water called throughout her life be it Lake Michigan or the Pacific Ocean. Years ago, Mom would take us on day trips to the ocean as often as possible or simply the backyard to soak up rays and work on our tans using the well known magical elixir of the day: baby oil and iodine.

She loved a good steak and always a little something sweet no matter the time of day. She made an amazing cherry pie and her butter cookie recipe is top notch. One particular long ago Christmas Eve she offered guests over a dozen different cookie types, all delicious and well received.

She adored lipstick of which she owned a pallet, and clothes shopping - returning most purchases soon after, time after time, making it a hobby all its own we suppose.

Each of us can pinpoint particular times where Mom’s love touched us in the deepest of places and in the most needed of times, from a listening ear and strong shoulder, to a cool cloth and gentle touch on our foreheads as children when ill. Of this and infinitely more, we’re forever grateful. And while our mother’s life was long, it will always seem short in the ways that count most. Our hope is that she would know that while she considered her family to be her most precious of blessings, her family will always consider her life a precious blessing as well.

“May we number our days with wisdom.” Psalm 90:12