Joyce Havens
Joyce Havens peacefully passed into her Savior’s arms on May 31, 2023, at the age of 94.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 24, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Hamilton.
She was born Feb. 4, 1929, in Tipton, Oklahoma, and graduated high school in Pottsville.
Joyce married Jack Havens Oct. 4, 1947, and got to enjoy almost 16 years of marriage before he was taken all too soon with cancer on Oct. 1, 1963.
Hamilton was home to Joyce for most of her adult life. The past seven years Joyce was lovingly cared for by family and all the staff at Grapevine Medical Lodge, but her dear friends of Hamilton were never far from her heart. She treasured and invested in those connections long after her move to be closer to family.
While never rich with material wealth, Joyce was abundantly blessed with the deepest riches of family, friends and her abiding faith in God. She loved nothing better than simply being together – whether celebrating a special occasion, just enjoying a meal together or playing a hot game of Skip-Bo!
When Joyce made the very difficult decision to leave Hamilton, her beloved church family and dear friends of 50plus years, she determined from the outset to embrace those who lived at Grapevine Medical Lodge as her new “community.” And with that heart attitude, they loved her there from day one! The family is so very thankful for the countless ways she was loved cared for these past seven years.
Joyce spoke with great anticipation of her arrival in heaven. And so, while we grieve our loss and miss her terribly, we rejoice that she is now whole and more alive than ever before in the eternal presence of God the Father!
Joyce is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Havens; her mother and father, James and Susie Stevens; her brother and sister-in-law, Shelby and Virginia Stevens; and many other family members.
She leaves behind daughter Dianne Havens Rabbe and husband Bert; and son James Havens and wife Chris; she was known and loved as “Granny” to seven grandchildren, Brenda Rabbe Atzinger, Sharon Rabbe Watson, James Michael Havens, Peter Havens, Aaron Havens, Rachel Havens Hawkins and Adam Havens; she was also very proud to be called “Great Granny” by 19 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.
At Joyce’s request, in lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to her church.
