Joyce Elaine Weis

Joyce Elaine was born to Bertha and George Davis in Fresno on May 2nd, 1935. She passed away on August 11th, 2021 at the age of 86. Joyce grew up in Kerman where her family farmed raisins. She and her sister Juanita, known as Bug, actively participated in working on the farm. They helped by rolling 80 acres of raisin trays. Joyce and her sister, along with their close friend Sharron Taylor, took tap dancing lessons as children. They performed in many places, including the Grange.

Joyce attended Dakota grammar school where she skipped 4th grade.

In junior high Joyce met the love of her life, Charlie Weis, at the Kerman harvest festival. Charlie asked Joyce to ride on the ferris wheel with him, and as he used to say, "We’ve been going round and round ever since."

During high school Joyce participated in many activities including playing tennis, cheerleading, and being given the title of FFA Queen.

After high school she attended 4C's business college in Fresno. She was hired by Southern Pacific railroad and was transferred to San Francisco. While there, she lived in a Methodist home for women.

After high school Charlie joined the navy and "saw the world through a porthole." When he came home on leave in 1953 he asked Joyce to marry him. Two weeks later they were married on September 12th, 1953 in Fresno California. They were married nearly 65 years.

After they were married, the family flew to Illinois where Charlie was stationed. While in Illinois, in 1954, their first son George was born. From Illinois he was assigned to a ship and the couple moved to Rhode Island. While Charlie served, Joyce flew home to Kerman with their first son, George. Two weeks after arriving back in Kerman, in 1956, Joyce gave birth to their second son, Scott. Joyce joined Charlie in Hawaii where Charlie was now stationed. After Charlie completed his 4 years of service in the Navy he was discharged. The family flew back to Kerman where Joyce was a loving mother and homemaker and Charlie farmed.

Joyce and Charlie came to Christ at Butler Mennonite Church in Fresno. They became involved in helping with the youth, including a mission trip to Mexico. At the Mennonite Church they were also involved in Bible studies and gained many lifelong friends.

Around 1975 Charlie and Joyce joined the recently formed Kerman Covenant Church. Joyce was active in teaching VBS, Sunday school, attending Bible study, and loved working in the nursery. She was also a cub scout leader for her son's troops.

George attended Tabor College in Kansas where he played football and met his wife Nancy. Scott went to Fresno Pacific College where he met his wife Julie. After marriage both sons returned home to farm.

Joyce and Charlie enjoyed spending time with all their grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and attending their many activities. Joyce had many traditions with the grand and great grandchildren. At Christmas she and Charlie would take them to the Christmas tree farm to pick out their tree. She would then have them come to her house to decorate Christmas cookies. At Easter they decorated eggs together and at Halloween she would take them to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins to carve together.

Joyce was an excellent cook who enjoyed entertaining friends and family. She was generous, kind, and had a great love for her family. She was loved and will be greatly missed.

Joyce is survived by her sister Juanita; son and daughter-in-law George and Nancy, son and daughter-in-law Scott and Julie, grandchildren Bradley, Brianne, Kimberly, and Nathan. Great grandchildren TJ, Tanner, Charli and Kieran. She was preceded in death by her grandson Eric, and her husband Charlie.