Joyce Marie Melton's Obituary
The world will be less interesting without Joyce Marie Melton, who decided to end her battle with COPD and dementia on December 18, 2021. Joyce fought as a warrior since 2017, striking down a broken hip, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, and debilitating arthritis. She’s finally getting her much-deserved rest.
Joyce was born May 26, 1937, to Mary Josephine (Hickey) Melton and Robert Frank Melton of Orlando, Florida. Joyce was the baby sister of Robert D. Melton, and “Bobby” relished his role as Joyce’s longtime protector and confidant.
Joyce graduated from Edgewater High School in 1955, later earning her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida and her Master’s Degree from Rollins College, Elementary Education and English. Joyce taught for a few years before marrying and having four daughters; Ann-Marie Moriarty, Mollye Moriarty, Laura (Ben Eggleston) Moriarty, and Megan (Brian) Green. Joyce’s children meant the world to her and she gave them all the love she had to give.
Joyce believed “Knowledge is Power,” and taught her children to read at an early age. Her daughters were taught to be kind to animals as their mother saved numerous strays. Joyce befriended outcasts, the lonely, anyone who felt down and out. Joyce enjoyed sharing newspaper articles as well as tips and tricks to all who crossed her path. Her marriage took her from Florida to San Diego, Honolulu, Virginia Beach, Kansas City, Ogden, Bozeman, before she settled in Kansas as her younger children finished college. Once her daughters were grown and she had divorced, she turned her attention to West Coast Swing dancing, her joy and grace evident to all her saw her dance.
Joyce’s brother Bob, his wife, Carolyn, and their four children, Aimee, Abbie, Angie, and Frank, welcomed her on all of their travels, whether Tahiti, Panama, Las Vegas, Bora Bora, or the ski slopes of Colorado. Bob’s family always included Aunt Joyce for holidays and celebrations.
After breaking her hip near her home in Kansas, Joyce relocated to Utah to be closer to two of her daughters, Mollye and Megan. Joyce quickly became a favorite of the CNAs, Medical Technicians, and receptionists at Creekside Assisted Living in Bountiful; she enjoyed discussing current events, playing bingo with a vengeance, and peppering the staff with questions while encouraging everyone to finish their education.
Joyce will be dearly missed by her four daughters, her brother, nieces, and nephew, along with grandchildren Dylan, Vivian, Isaac, and Julia.
Joyce will be greeted in Heaven by the parents she has missed for so long. Her beautiful, patient sister-in-law Carolyn will show her the ropes, and her sweet grandson Austin will answer all of her tech questions.
May Sweet Joyce find peace and rest, but also the answers to her Dateline Mysteries. May she bask in the love of her parents in The Place where it is always time to dance, where the bingo cards and slot machines are always hot, and where everyone uses proper grammar.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests checking in with an elderly relative, letting them know they are loved and valued.
Services to be held in Orlando at a later date.
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