Joyce Ferris-Metcalf, 81, of Los Gatos, California passed, early in the morning on Saturday August 5th in Brentwood California. Joyce was the eldest daughter (of 6 children), born to Ruth and Ladell Ferris on May 5th, 1937.
Joyce worked exceptionally hard to pass the entrance exam to Walnut Hills High School, where the average IQ was above 110 and it was thru the education there she applied and was accepted to Northwestern University, in which she started on September 15, 1954. After Northwestern she attended Harvard Law School and finished at Louisville law school so that her first husband, Norman Nedde, could attend and finish medical school. After graduation, she was the only woman to join the Kentucky Attorney Generals Office. They made their way out west to California where Joyce joined the Attorney General’s office in San Francisco. After Norm moved his medical practice to the south bay, Joyce joined the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office. She spend more than 40 years in that office and most of it as the only woman on the homicide team (where she only lost 1 case). They also adopted 2 girls (Crystal & Susan) during this time. After an unfortunate divorce, Joyce married again, to Charles Winthrop Metcalf. From that marriage came a beautiful incredibly intelligent little girl, Melissa, which was the light of her life.
Joyce was diagnosed with a very rare type of dementia (Primary Progressive Aphasia) and in lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate any donation to the National Aphasia Association. (https://www.aphasia.org/donate/ ).
There will be a service celebrating her life at the Los Gatos Presbyterian Church on September 7th at 1PM. There will be a private, family only service beforehand at the Los Gatos Cemetery.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18