Obituary of Joyce Elaine Brown

November 22, 1936 – Whitewood, Saskatchewan

May 30, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

Joyce Brown of Calgary, AB, passed away on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the age of 87 years.

Joyce was born in Whitewood, SK, on November 22, 1936. She enjoyed playing baseball, and basketball and was a cheerleader for her local high school. At the tender age of fourteen, she was set up with a boy, Alan Brown, from the neighbouring town of Broadview. This blind date would turn out to be the love of her life.  They went on to be married for 65 years, with Alan passing away in October 2023, and Joyce following to be with him a short seven months later.

After high school, Joyce moved to Moose Jaw, SK, to attend Teachers College where she played on the school’s basketball team and was a cheerleader. Upon receiving her teaching certificate, Joyce’s first teaching position was in Broadview, SK.

Joyce and Alan married on July 5, 1958, in Whitewood and moved to Regina where they started their family, with the birth of their son Rick, followed by their daughter, Jodi. Joyce enjoyed teaching elementary school in Regina until the family moved to Calgary in 1971.

Joyce continued teaching in Calgary, until the birth of their third child, Nonie, when she decided to be a stay-at-home mom. Once the kids were older, Joyce took on a part-time job at Eaton’s to give her something to do. She stayed on until Eaton’s closed in 1999.  During their retirement, Joyce and Alan enjoyed many years wintering in Yuma, AZ, with friends from Saskatchewan and Alberta, as well as quickly making many new lifelong friends from the park.

Joyce enjoyed bowling and curling. She curled with a weekly ladies' team as well as a weekly mixed team with Alan. There were many weekend bonspiels where Joyce and Alan enjoyed the competition on the rink and the social aspect in the lounge. Joyce also enjoyed learning new hobbies, such as paper tole art, pottery, macramé, and cake decorating. She was very creative and became quite good at cake decorating, making all her children’s birthday cakes, wedding cakes and eventually her grandchildren’s birthday cakes.

Joyce also loved camping and travelling, which included cruises and trips abroad. Family gatherings were important to Joyce; she enjoyed prepping meals, hosting the holidays, and having the house full of those she loved.

Joyce will be remembered for her zest for life and being the life of any gathering. She loved watching hockey and her Riders play. She especially enjoyed attending Grey Cup games; travelling to watch many games, and hosting Grey Cup parties for the ones they did not attend. She is remembered for being immense fun to be around, quick to laugh and the one to call for sound advice and support. She will be greatly missed.

Joyce leaves behind three children and two grandchildren. Her son Rick resides in Salisbury, NC, with his wife Donna. Her daughter Jodi Bramfield, her husband Bill, and their son Rhett of Rimbey, AB. Her daughter Nonie Warin, her husband Dave, and their son, Brody of Calgary, AB. Joyce is also survived by her older brother Jack Clarkson and younger sister June Clarkson-Koshman, both of Winnipeg, MB. As well, as many nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Joyce was predeceased by her beloved husband Alan, her parents Wilfrid and Jemina Clarkson, and her sister Janet.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to The Alzheimer Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, Administrative Office, 10531 Kingsway Avenue, Edmonton AB T5H 4K1.  Tel: (1-866) 950-5465, www.alzheimer.ab.ca.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Joyce’s family here.

In living memory of Joyce Elaine Brown, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Deerfoot South, 12281 – 40th Street SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 4E6, Telephone: 403-203-0525.