Joyce Jeffries Johnson passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, January 17, 2021, at eighty-four years of age. She was born in Manti, Utah, at home to Albert and Georgia Maxfield Jeffries on September 2, 1936. She grew up in Manti, Utah, the sixth of seven children. She excelled in English and drama and was also a cheerleader at Manti High. She was known even then as a talented vocalist who went on to sing for many private occasions. Once Joyce graduated high school, she attended junior college. She graduated – with her Mrs. as the wife of Stan T. Johnson, after her freshman year. Stan was an ironworker and Joyce became a happy young housewife of the 1950’s, giving birth to their first daughter, Melony, in Mt. Pleasant within the first year of their marriage.
As the young family grew and moved from Wyoming to Nevada and back again, another daughter was born, Kristine. Joyce was an avid seamstress and made her daughters’ and her own clothing to help save the young family money. Her girls were always dressed in the latest trends when she sewed. Joyce even made matching Barbie doll dresses for her daughters. She worked avidly in the Mormon church as a primary teacher. She was often the children’s favorite. In 1963, the young family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, pulling their neatly packed eight by thirty-two foot trailer. They had become experts at packing and moving but settled at last at Bramblewood Trailer Park. Joyce economized as her husband worked on at Taylor Steel as the couple saved to buy property on then distant Lake Mead Boulevard, at the end of the city itself.
As soon as they paid off their property, the Johnsons moved their trailer to an empty half acre where for three years, after work and on weekends, they built their dream home. During that time Joyce gave birth to their only son, Stephen Harold Johnson, who lived only three days. The young couple continued to work together and Stan soon opened the doors of Steel, Inc. the same year that their youngest daughter, Kara, was born. Joyce continued to work within the Twenty-second Ward
as an MIA or Mutual teacher at which she was mildly famous for putting on the best roadshows ever. Their business thrived, but the marriage did not survive the early seventies.
Joyce was a fighter, though, just as her pioneer ancestors had been. At the beginning of the fight, there was ONLY rehabilitative alimony in the state of Nevada. At the end of the day, Joyce’s advocation of her case became precedent for permanent non-decreasing alimony in the State of Nevada. Joyce had made stare decisis, new law, in the State of Nevada and many women benefited from her refusal to diminish her worth. Joyce became famous for having educated herself. She did her own legal research and paralegal work.
Joyce joined and worked as a constable for the City of Las Vegas. This led to her helping with many local charities, especially Toys for Tots and St. Jude’s Ranch. She was known for her sense of humor and her dynamic personality wherever she went, whether it was to the temple in her finest, to Chicago Joe’s for lunch, or to her own deposition in a red dress. Joyce became well known doing paralegal work for her attorney on her own and other cases in the infamous days of The Posse in Las Vegas. She was an avid dater and dated and traveled with some of the valley’s most eligible bachelors back in the day. Joyce often included her mother or her dear friend, Susan Munson, as a “chaperone.” From Alaska where she hunted bear, to New England, where she hunted -- adventure, J.J. Johnson, as she came to be known, was notorious. She was famous with her family and friends from Downton Vegas to her church for her pool parties and her generous nature. She was an amazing hostess who worked on many local political campaigns, as well. She was also known to be an avid marksman. Joyce ‘s huge heart encompassed generations of friends.
Known as a "War Horse", Joyce was a devoted Nana to her seven grandchildren and ten great grandchildren, all of whom she was blessed to be survived and beloved by. She is also survived by her daughters, Melony Johnson-Willis, Kristine Johnson, and Kara Tolbert, of Las Vegas, as well as by her sister, Dorothy Sorenson of Hurricane, Utah.
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