Joye Willoughby

COALVILLE - Joye Huffman Willoughby, age 89, passed from this life on October 10, 2016.  Joye was born June 6, 1927, in Coalville, Utah.  She was the oldest of three daughters born to George Elwood and Hannah Huffman.  She attended North Summit High School where she was valedictorian of her graduating class.  Joye met her true love, Earl Willoughby, when her family moved to Chalk Creek.  Earl, who was eleven years old at the time, stopped to visit with her at her gate each evening as he delivered their newspaper.  He officially proposed to her a year later (when he was twelve).  They were married six years after that and spent 65 wonderful years as sweethearts.  Earl has been anxiously awaiting her arrival in heaven for the past four years.

Joye worked as a dental assistant in Coalville at the time they were married.  She and Earl co-owned and managed the Loma Theater with Joye's parents for many years.  They also owned their own long-haul truck, driving cross country as a sleeper team for several years.  They traveled all over the western part of the country and loved the time they spent traveling together.  Joye also drove school buses for the North Summit School District for many years.

Joye loved to read and could often be found curled up in her favorite chair enjoying a novel.  She was a talented seamstress who kept her children and grandchildren well-dressed in clothes she made.  She sewed the wedding gown and several bridesmaids' dresses when her sister, Dorothy, got married.  She also loved to crochet, embroider, and quilt and made many beautiful things for her family.  Joye was a wonderful cook.  Her homemade rolls, which were a family favorite, seemed to magically appear anytime someone invited them to dinner.  Joye is a member of the LDS church and was very proud to have been a Golden Gleaner as a young adult.  She held several positions in various church organizations over the years.

Joye is survived by her son Michael (Louise) Willoughby of Coalville, Utah,  and her daughter Lynette (Bruce) Gittins of Hyrum, Utah; eight grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, her sister Dorothy (Raymond) Louder of Coalville, and her brother-in-law Bill Staley of Evanston, Wyoming.  She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and her sister, Donna Staley.  The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, and staff of the care facilities that so lovingly cared for her during the last years of her life.

Funeral services will be Saturday, October 15th at 11:00 a.m. at the Wanship LDS meetinghouse at 30899 Old Lincoln Highway, Wanship, Utah.  Viewings will be held at the Wanship church on Friday, October 14th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the services.   Interment will be at the Coalville City Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.walker-mortuary.com