Memories of Joyce

Dear Ray and family,

As the days have passed since Joyce's passing, I think of you and her every day. She was such influence in the lives of our girls, Jennifer and Jill. She was very much loved and appreciated by them. I was deeply grateful for her love, direction, and support of them through the young teenage years. Being a working mom, I counted on the influence and example of so many to guide our children when I was helping other children. Joyce was one of those mentors for our girls. I know they grew in positive directions and stayed close to valued principles because of her example.

She always cared about me, as well, inviting me to be a part of activites or asking me to come to her home. Ray and Joyce helped me in my elementary teaching career by building things, providing me with puppets, introducing me to other teachers whose ideas and creative presentations became a part of my classroom environment and teaching strategies. Ray built me countless structures to use in my classroom, and Joyce and he provided me with left over parts from their puppets so that I could use these materials in my math and art lessons. We worked together on teaching materials, both printed and visual, that I used to inspire the children. Joyce and Ray were invaluable in the preparation that I had to make for each of our girl's weddings. I could not have accomplished what I did if they had not helped me like they did.

Joyce always greeted me at church with her caring warmth and sincere love. We often shared our concern for our mutual friends, wondering how we could be of assistance to them. Joyce was always calling and offering her service to me, as I am the compassionate service person in Relief Society, and she was always the one to call first or offer her services. She would, on her own, take full dinners to those whose loved one had just passed. Her meals were wonderful, and she prepared them with such ease.

Her quiet dignity and generous spirit were soothing and comfortable. I just can't imagine her not being here to be able to feel of her quiet, constant presence. I do feel her near, and I know that she will reach out from the other side to comfort, inform, guide, and help you, her loved ones and friends, to temper the loss of her passing.

I feel grateful to have been her friend, to have had her influence in the lives of our girls to such a degree that they loved her and appreciated her in the way that they did, and that they can truly say she influenced their lives for good in such a profound way. They are great young women, and I fully realize that it was because of women like Joyce who touched their lives for good.

I hope and pray that you will be comforted as you have comforted us in her sweet memorial and the sharing of her life in the sweet, simple way that you did.

I want to be able to lend my love and support to you and your family, Ray, and to Joyce. Sending this email was one way that I could show that love. I know there is so much more that I would like to say. Right now, I'll just say: "Thank you for the opportunity to have known Joyce and to have had her influence in my life and the life of my loved ones. For that, I will be eternally grateful."

Love, Clair Ann Rasmussen

I know that Arlan feels the same way that I do.