July 1, 1933 - Nov. 30, 2008

Joyce Davies Skilling, 75, of Brownsville, died Sunday at her home.

She was born in Chester, England, the daughter of Edward William and Emma (Cochrell) Davies.

She grew up in England. In high school, she ran hurdles in track and her favorite class was home economics. Her first job in England was a telephone operator at 16 years old. She also knitted socks for soldiers during World War II during her high school years. She left England in 1953, moving to California where she resided in Poway as well as San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, Los Angeles, Oxnard, and Huntington Beach. Joyce worked at Camarillo State Hospital in Oxnard as a nurse assistant. She later worked as a district manager for the Times Advocate Newspaper in Escondido, Calif., a job she loved.

Joyce was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served missions with her husband to Sierra Leone, West Africa; Chester, England; and Tennessee; and served in many callings in her church including seminary teacher and primary president. She enjoyed needle work, cooking, yoga, walking and jogging, family reunions and holidays, taming cats, gardening and quilting.

Joyce is survived by her children, Dane Conklin of Kent, Wash., Laura Holbrook of Brownsville, Emma Whitcomb of Tigard, Micha Skilling of Seattle, Wash., and Sarah Skilling of Seattle; sister Peggy Roberts of Cowly, England; 14 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Skilling and sister Phyllis Hopkins.

A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Brownsville. Burial will be at the Brownsville Pioneer Cemetery. Donations can be made to S.P.A.Y. Inc., of Brownsville. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements (www.sweethomefuneral.com).