Joyce L. Wainwright, Died August 28, 2018

Joyce L. Wainwright

Died August 28, 2018

Northport - Joyce Lucille Wainwright, 87, of Northport, passed away Tuesday, August 28, 2018 surrounded by her loving daughters. 

Joyce was born October 13, 1930 in Dearborn, Michigan, the daughter of Kenneth Wayne Moore and Eleanora Matilda (Malick) Moore.  She and other family were original founders of St. James United Church of Christ in Dearborn, Michigan. 

Joyce graduated from Fordson High School in 1948.  She then attended Elmhurst College in Illinois and Wayne State University in Michigan from which she earned her Bachelors Degree in Teaching in 1952. 

On June 20, 1953, she married Robert Arthur Wainwright.  Together they moved to Dearborn Heights, Michigan, where they raised their three daughters.  Both being teachers, many fun summer travel adventures were possible including camping and boating.

Joyce taught kindergarten and second grade at Kinloch Elementary School in the Crestwood School District.  In 1976 she earned her Master’s Degree from Wayne State University in Special Education and taught in the Hamtramck School District. 

She retired in 1988 and moved to Northport into the house that she and Bob built.  They wintered in Arizona and later Florida where they enjoyed local arts, crafts, jewelry and pottery.

Joyce was very active in the Northport community.  She was a member of the Leelanau Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Retired Teachers of Leelanau County, and the Lions Club.  She volunteered tutoring children at the Leelanau Children’s Center in Northport and she read to children at the Northport Library.  Joyce loved to sing, and she sang in the Trinity United Church of Christ Choir and the Village Voices. 

 

Joyce was a kind, caring, giving wife, mother and educator.  She loved being with her family and especially enjoyed being with her number one grandson, Zachary.  She loved Sander’s Hot Fudge Sundaes, potato chips, and chocolate.  She loved and enjoyed all of her many dogs.  She was a skilled water color painter and her works are loved and displayed by her family.

Joyce is survived by her daughters, Dr. Susan (Thomas) Wainwright-Rollins, Diane Wainwright, Kathleen Wainwright, grandson Zachary Rollins, her dog Rusty, and many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 58 years, Bob, and her beloved sister, Carole Nicoll. 

A memorial service and luncheon will be held on Saturday, October 20, at 11:00 a.m. at her family church, Trinity United Church of Christ in Northport, Michigan.  After the service, burial will follow in the Leelanau Township Cemetery at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Trinity United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 156, Northport, Michigan  49670 and/or Cherryland Humane Society, 1750 Ahlberg Road, Traverse City, Michigan  49696.

Condolences may be shared with Joyce’s family below or at our funeral home Facebook page: