Joy Hazel Applegate

She is predeceased by her beloved husband John “Jack” Applegate.

She is survived by her daughter Kim Applegate, grandson Connor Applegate, sister Bonnie Charles, sister Terri Charles, nephew Don Darvill, sister-in-law Mary Applegate, sister and brother-in-law Carol and Bob Cryer and many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews in BC and Ontario.

Anyone who knew Joy was keenly aware that being a teacher was her gift and her joy. Many times former students would run into her and cry out “Mrs. Applegate!” And praise her for enriching their school lives. Joy always set her own standards very high and believed in giving her best in anything she did.

Joy was born on a farm near Brandon, Manitoba and was a loyal fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the end. After receiving her teacher’s certificate from Brandon College at the age of 18 she headed to northern Manitoba for her first teaching post where she taught in a small school house while boarding with a local Mennonite family. She met a dashing train conductor named Jack on one of those train journeys north.

Joy and Jack were wed in 1962. They began married life in Winnipeg where their daughter Kim was born a couple of years later. The family moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan for a couple of years where Joy taught in a private school and Jack worked as a disc jockey for the local radio station. They returned to Winnipeg but within a few years they found themselves heading even further west to Prince George, BC. There they raised their daughter and built a good life in beautiful northern BC.

Joy enjoyed teaching first and foremost but did find time for cross-country skiing, camping in their ever expanding motorhomes, and gardening.

In 2000, Jack and Joy were retired and sold their home and moved to Vernon, BC. This was their dream to have a beautiful and stress free condo allowing them to swap yard work for winters in their motorhome in sunny Arizona and summers enjoying the beautiful Okanagan.

In 2004, their daughter Kim finally got around to giving them a grandchild. Everything changed once Connor was born and their lives instantly centred around their beautiful, rambunctious grandson. The dream was complete in 2007 when Kim and Connor moved from the Lower Mainland and made their home in Vernon.

Joy set up a mini classroom in her home to enrich Connor’s curriculum. She also became the number one teacher’s assistant at Silver Star Elementary School. Any teacher that ‘worked’ with Joy realized her gift and passion to teach.

Joy and Jack loved their life they built in Prince George. They had many friends and connections through Jack’s work with BC Rail and PG Toastmasters.

Once in Vernon they were part of the vibrant Inglewood condo community and lived their best retirement life. They were active members of the strata committee and social club as well as enjoying golf with their fellow residents and friends.

Joy was blessed to have found the First Baptist Church and she enjoyed being part of the church community. In her final years, Pastor Randy’s visits to her home were a highlight and a comfort.

The family invites friends to join them in celebrating Joy’s life on October 9, 2026 at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Vernon. A tea will follow. The service will also be streamed and saved on First Baptist Church’s YouTube channel.

A link can be found at https://www.firstbaptistvernon.net/