Our angel mother, Joyce Hawkes Metcalf, passed away peacefully at her home after a head injury due to a fall. She returned to her loving heavenly parents on Friday, January 28, 2022 at the age of 88. Our father, Robert W. Metcalf, preceded her in death by almost 31 years. Their reunion must have been glorious!
Joyce was born on November 24, 1933 in Ogden, Utah, the daughter of John Burns and Laura McEntire Hawkes. She was the oldest of four children and was raised in a loving and service-minded home. She spent her childhood in Ogden and her teenage years serving with her family in the mission field for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They first served a family proselyting mission in Northern California and then her father was called to preside over the North Central States where they lived for over 5 years.
Our parents met when Bob moved into Joyce’s Monument Park Ward. It didn’t take long for them to fall in love. Joyce graduated from Brigham Young University in Early Childhood Education and Bob from the University of Utah where he was also accepted to medical school. Following their engagement, they both served missions; Bob in Canada and Joyce in New England. Just 3 weeks after Bob returned home, they were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on October 24, 1958. Joyce enjoyed teaching elementary school before starting a family.
Our mother was loved and adored by her 10 children, 37 grandchildren and 46 great-grandchildren. She helped each feel important and special with her constant support of their activities, beautifully wrapped birthday gifts, holiday cards in the mail, cherry chip cake and her famous 14-layered rainbow jello. Vacations with her family to Lake Powell, Bear Lake, Oceanside, Yellowstone, Aspen Grove and Midway were some of her favorite memories.
Joyce was a sports enthusiast, especially when cheering for her posterity. She looked forward to watching the BYU Cougars play basketball and football. She was a fan of the Utah Jazz. She had great strategy when playing “Mormon” bridge and knew how to win.
Joyce enthusiastically served in the Salt Lake Temple as a coordinator and ordinance worker for 19 years. She served faithfully in various ward and stake callings. You could tell by the way she lived her life that the gospel was very important to her. She was filled with kindness, compassion and Christ-like love for others. Joyce served as PTA president three times and was a consistent volunteer in her children’s classrooms. She was proud to be a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
Joyce was preceded in death by her sweetheart, Robert; daughter Angela; son Matthew; grandson Nathan; great-grandson Charlie; brother Douglas Hawkes; and parents John and Laura Hawkes. She is survived by her children Bradley (Jan), David (Karalee), Shauna (Brent), Richard (Cindy), Jonathan (Dawn), Michael (Jane), Susan (Jim) and Katherine (Justin); her sister Lauralee Hunsaker; and brother David Hawkes.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 12th, 2022 at 12:00 pm at the LDS Chapel located at 4551 South 1200 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84117. Family and friends may visit with the family Friday night from 6:00 – 8:00 pm at the same ward building and Saturday morning from 10:30 to 11:45 am prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Wasatch Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions be made to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.
