Joyce Stevenson Tate

Our totally awesome, rockin' mother, wife and daughter peacefully returned to our Heaven Father, after a more than three year battle with Lou Gherig's Disease, December 25th, 2008, in Orem, Utah.
She was born February 6, 1938, in Raymond, Alberta, Canada, to Aziel and Lulu Stevenson. She was the sixth of seven children. She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her brothers Ray and Alan, and her twin, Janyce.
She graduated from Raymond High School, and attended Lethbridge Vocational School, Calgary Technical College, where she was voted School Queen, and BYU. She worked as a switchboard operator directly after high school, the Deseret Savings and Loan in Provo, and for BYU for over 26 years before retiring in September 2006.
She married Gary Wm. Tate in the Cardston LDS Temple September 14, 1963. They had four daughters, Janis, Shauna, Dawn-Mari and Lesley. They moved frequently during their marriage, and finally settled in their current home in Orem, Utah.
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she had many callings in which she faithfully served. Her favorite calling was that of Chorister, which she served in for over 13 years. Music was a large part of her life, and her children and grandchildren recall her singing and humming all the time. She also had the privilege of serving a mission with Gary in the Zimbabwe, Harare mission for 9 months before returning home to deal with her illness.
She was a valiant woman, who never complained as the disease slowly took away her ability to function. She never complained, and continued to faithfully fulfill her calling as a visiting teacher right up until the end. She was full of love and compassion for others all her life.
She has been survived by her husband, Gary Wm. Tate, her daughters, Janis Tate, Shauna Bentsen (Mike Moore), Dawn-Mari Furner (Loren), Lesley Shepherd (Keith), and her grandchildren, Emmie, Samantha, Paige, Christian, Alyssa, Zachary, Logan and Alex, her sister, Elaine Low, and her brothers, Joseph and Ron Stevenson.
Funeral Services will be held at the LDS Chapel on 365 South 900 East, Orem, Utah. A viewing will be held Thursday, January 1, 2009, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM. A second viewing will be held Friday, January 2, 2009, from 10:00 - 11:00 AM, with the funeral immediately following from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. She will be laid to rest in the Orem City Cemetery.
Special thanks to Verna Nelson, Dana Mutch, Missy Ford and all the staff at Alpine Home Care and Hospice Center.