Joyce Anne DeGeer

Joyce was born in Coquille, Oregon. Surviving Joyce are her husband, James DeGeer, her children Steven DeGeer of Lafayette, Colorado, Mark DeGeer of Cottage Grove, Oregon and Sarah Smith of Albany, Oregon. Joyce also has 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. Joyce was the youngest of her parent's, Wallace and Irene Delker, children. She has one living brother, Karl, in Seaside, Oregon. Wallace and Irene were both part of large families (12 kids in each), so there are several cousins surviving her. Joyce's parents moved to the Sherwood and Newberg areas during her childhood and she graduated from Newberg High School in 1963. Joyce married James DeGeer in 1964. They lived in Tigard for about 2 years until James had finished collage and he was called up for active duty in the US Navy. They then moved to Arlington, Virginia. James was stationed in Washington, DC to teach computer programming for the Navy. After active duty was up the family moved back to Tigard and purchased a home there. The family lived in Tigard until 1999 when James took an early retirement opportunity and moved to Sherwood. Joyce was very active in the churches where she lived, and she loved working with children. Among other things, Joyce taught Sunday School for many years, coordinated the nursery, and did Vacation Bible School in her home. She also worked in a day care center for a while. On April 4, 2000 Joyce had a bad stroke that made her an invalid for the rest of her life. Her husband and daughter were her caregivers. The last couple of years her granddaughter, Veronica, also helped with Joyce's care. Joyce did get some functions back, such as reading books and planning holiday decorations. But she had to have help moving from place to place, eating, going to the bathroom, taking a shower, etc. and was unable to use her left hand. During all of this she tried to be as functional as she could. Joyce continued to get the flowers for the Sunday morning service at church and kept sending cards to people, just as she had done all her life. However, she could not do her favorite hobbies of sewing, scrapbooking, and decorating the house and yard. When her kidneys stopped functioning on March 4, 2023 Joyce felt that she could not take on dialysis with what she already had. She decided to go on to something better. Joyce went on hospice care. She died one week later. During all the things that Joyce went through she continued being the loving faithful Christian helpmate to her husband and family. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. (Prov. 31:28,2) Memorial Service April 16,2023 at 2:00 PM Scholls Community Church

Joyce Anne DeGeer

November 21, 1944 - March 11, 2023