Joy Diane Thomas

Joy Diane Madsen Thomas of Holladay, Utah, died on the morning of December 13, 2020 at the University of Utah Hospital. Joy was born in Provo, Utah, June 4, 1939, to Mamie Draper Madsen and William McKinley Madsen. She was married to August Eugene Thomas, March 14, 1970, in Provo. Joy and Gene celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in March, 2020.

Joy graduated from Provo HS in 1957, and from Brigham Young University in 1961. She remembered fondly all her life the trip she took to Mexico with the BYU Spanish Language department. At BYU, she studied to be an educator and nurse. Joy worked at LDS Hospital, taught elementary school in Murray and Vernal, Utah, and Snowflake, Arizona, and was, later, a substitute teacher at various elementary schools in Granite District. As an educator, Joy loved helping her children and grandchildren with school projects and homework. Joy was talented at drawing, piano music, writing, and was interested in and involved herself with community matters, such as a historical preservation project in Union, Utah. An avid genealogist, Joy wrote extensively about the history of her family, which was Danish, English, Welsh, and French. She was a member of the LDS Holladay South Stake.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mamie and William; sister, Rita; brothers Jack, Merrill, and Donald; and niece, Jeanne. She is survived by her husband, Gene; sons Matthew and James; daughter, Jennifer, and her children, Joy's grandchildren, Aesher, Kona, Kailua, and Malia; brother, Gary; sister-in-law, Cornelia Bates Madsen; niece, Katharine; and nephews, William, Russell, and Jonathan Joseph.

She also loved Kailua-Kona, Hawai'i, where her oldest son lived for many years. And dear to her heart were her “little darling” animals: Moo, Kuma and Stubb.

Due to COVID-related restrictions, funeral services at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park will be for immediate family, but, once possible, a memorial service for extended family and friends will be held in Provo, Utah.