Mary Joyce Edmunds

Mary Joyce Edmunds passed away Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Prairie Creeks Living Center in Strasburg, Colorado, at the age of 89. She was born on October 10,1935, to Everette and Goldie (Tryon) Edmunds in Stratton, Colorado. She grew up on a farm in the Stratton/Vona area and graduated from Vona High School in 1953.

Joyce’s first job was as a waitress in Burlington, Colorado. Later she worked for TWA Airlines in Kansas City, Missouri. While living there she converted to Catholicism. After eight years of working at TWA, she moved to Denver. Six months later, in 1966, her Dad, who she was very close to, was killed in an oil tank explosion. She worked for Sysco Food Company, and later as a key puncher for Mountain Bell phone company until her retirement. 

Joyce and her brother Melvin “Bud” took their nieces and nephews on many camping, hiking, and backpacking trips. These adventures continued as the kids grew up and had their own families. They also loved to play cards, especially Pitch at all the family gatherings.

On September 11, 2001, Joyce and Bud moved from Arvada to Cedaredge, Colorado. They enjoyed many outdoor activities in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with their hiking group. They loved camping, skiing, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, kayaking, rafting, exploring canyons, and seeing the wildlife and wildflowers. They also enjoyed hanging out with friends, wine tasting, and playing Cribbage and Bridge. Her favorite cruise was to Alaska; she really liked seeing the bears.

In May of 2022, almost five years after Bud passed away, she moved to Strasburg, Colorado, to the assisted living center. During that time, she returned to the Catholic Faith. She enjoyed playing Bingo and used her winnings for “pizza parties” with family. She also played Words with Friends online with her friends in Cedaredge. She still enjoyed being outside and would often go riding on her tricycle with her “great” nephew or niece. 

Joyce had a cat named BT for 16 years. She really missed his company when he died in 2024. She was determined to have the wooden box holding his ashes placed in her coffin.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings: infant sister Goldie 1925, twins Marion 1947 & Maryld 2004, Marvin 2021, Marvel 2009, and Melvin “Bud” 2017.

Joyce is survived by her many nieces & nephews, bringing her all the way from “Aunt” to “great, great, great Aunt”!