Celebration of lIfe
Internment
Obituary of Joyce Vanfleet Smith
On February 4th, 2018, loving sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Joyce Vanfleet Smith passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family after a battle with Alzheimer's and heart disease at age 83.
Joyce was born March 17th, 1934 to Clifton R. Vanfleet and Veda Lavina Larson in Garland, Utah. She was married to Elliott (Dave) Davis Smith on December 23, 1950, in Long Beach, California and sealed to him and their children for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple. Joyce was a dedicated homemaker and mother until she took over running the family service station business. From there she went on to work as an administrative assistant at A. M. Gamby Mortuary. She volunteered at the Red Cross teaching first aid classes and had an interest in health, healing and nutrition all of her life. She studied reflexology and gave some killer foot rubs. Joyce also helped out in her younger children's school classrooms. She was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and had an unwavering testimony demonstrated by her service in the Relief Society, Primary, Young Women and her involvement in the Scouting program. She was an extremely crafty woman who was a phenomenal cook and baker, cake decorator, candy maker, quilter, and seamstress. She could do anything she set her mind to including restoring furniture, leatherworking, crafting, knitting and crochet. She was devoted to her genealogy and loved reading Church history. There was nothing Joyce loved more than her family. She took great pride and joy in their lives, loved to be surrounded by them and always seemed to have a child in her arms.
Joyce will be forever remembered by her brother Ronald Vanfleet, sister Ruth Jarvis, children Linda (Doug) Harmon, Alisha Smith, Michael (Marcia) Smith, Lori Smith, Wendy (Stan) Jacobs, Julene (Shaun) Fudge, David (Nina) Smith and Aaron (Andrea) Smith. Grandma Joyce will also be fondly remembered by her 33 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren, extended family and dear friends. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Mary, her son Robert and her husband Dave.
A celebration of Joyce's life will be held Saturday, February 10th, 2018 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1600 Erbes Rd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 with a viewing at 9:00 am and the service at 10:00 am in the chapel. Interment at Green Hills Memorial Park
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association https://www.alz.