Joyce Parks, age 91, passed away peacefully in Bellingham on Thursday, June 1, 2017. She was born Feb. 9, 1926, in South Sioux City, Neb. to Lawrence and Marion Grace (Gibeau) Wesner. The family moved to Washington State in 1935 and Joyce graduated from Ocosta High School, in Westport, Wash.

Joyce married Lowell Parks on Jan. 6, 1945, at Treasure Island Naval Base in the San Francisco Bay area. While Lowell was serving in the U.S. Navy for over 20 years, they lived and visited many places in the U.S. and throughout the world.

She loved music, gardening, making ceramics, painting, sewing and especially her grandchildren.

Joyce and Lowell operated Parks Country Store in Bay City, Wash. for many years after Lowell left the service and retired to their nearby home in 1977 to enjoy the beautiful and peaceful view of Elk River. Joyce moved to Bellingham in 2006 to be near family. She had a great sense of humor and loved to decorate for every holiday.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Lowell, son Bradley and brothers James and Dean Wesner. She is survived her sons David (MariAnne) Parks of Longview, Wash. and Jeff (Anita) Parks of Bellingham, Wash., grandchildren Diane (Jim) Webster, Michael Parks, Chelsea (Josh) Allison, Kirstin (Kody) Rawls, Brenden Parks (fiancée Victoria), great-grandchildren Amy Webster and Kellan Rawls, cousin Claire O’Neill, nieces Jodean Olsen and Jenna Woodward, and many loving relatives and friends.

A graveside service will be held at Fern Hill Cemetery on Thursday, June 8, at 1 p.m. You may share memories with the family at www.westfordfuneralhome.com.