Joyce Elaine Johnson

Longtime Jackson resident Joyce Elaine Johnson died at home in Jackson on March 5. She was 81. The following was provided by her family. Joyce was born Jan. 11, 1943, to Adolf and Agnes Kuck. She married her high school sweetheart, David W. Johnson, on May 26, 1963. Three children were born to this union: Suzanne (Philadelphia), Wade (Alpine) and Luke, (Seattle).

Joyce was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. In her early years she was a beauty pageant winner at 18 years old. She was a deputy county treasurer at 19 and a dedicated mother by 22. She had a deep faith and served her church in many capacities: as a Sunday school teacher, VBS teacher, art instructor, financial secretary, treasurer and pianist. David and Joyce kept a summer residence in Jackson, starting in 1978, and moved permanently in 1984.

Joyce was the manager of the Browse ’N Buy thrift store for a number of years, She administered the food bank for Wyoming and was honored by the state for her work. Joyce was awarded Citizen of the Year in 1990 by the Teton County Task Force. She was also the manager of the Hallmark Store and opened its floral department. She was a member of the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce and was a hunting camp cook for her son Wade’s outfitting business across Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. She achieved her real estate license while living in the Gillette area and sold many ranches.

Joyce was known for her floral design, interior design and avid artistry, noted for her oils, water colors, and pen and inks. She judged art at the Teton County Fair for many years. Joyce loved to travel and made many trips to Australia to visit her daughter and grandchildren. She loved the California coast and took many trips with her children and grandchildren to Disneyland and Disney world. She recently visited Hawaii, a part of her bucket list. She loved collecting seashells. Joyce was a dedicated fan and never missed supporting all her children’s music, theater, sports and rodeo events. She and David traveled all across Wyoming to watch and cheer. Most recently she could be found at the Jackson Hole Rodeo to watch her twin grandsons, Jeremiah and Jude, in the mini bull riding. She was their biggest fan.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, David W. Johnson, on Dec. 5, 2020; her parents; brother Harold Kuck; and son-in-law Jim Wilson. She will be sorely missed by her three children; grandsons Jesse (Casey) Thomson, Caleb (Sofia) Thomson, of Australia, and Jeremiah and Jude Johnson, of Alpine; and her great-grandchildren, Heath, Jaxson and Berni Thomson, of Australia).

“When we get to the end of our lives together, the house we had, the cars we drove, the things we possessed won’t matter. What will matter is that I had you and you had me.”