Obituary of Joyce Marie Douglas

DOUGLAS: Joyce Marie Douglas (nee Sherris) passed away peacefully, with loved ones by her side, at the Assiniboine Centre on Sunday, May 12, 2019 at the age of 80 years. Joyce was born in Winnipeg on January 5, 1939. Joyce was adopted by Fred and Eva Sherris and lived on the family farm near Moore Park, MB. She attended school at Moore Park Consolidated School until grade 11, and then completed her grade 12 education at St. Michael's Academy in Brandon. As a teen, Joyce fell ill with Rheumatic Fever at Christmas time. She recovered in bed, at home on the family farm for 4 months. These were lonely times for a 15/16 year old. She did, although, recover in time to continue her Commercial Business studies at St. Michael's Academy, graduating in May 1957, and began working on the First of June that year. After graduation, Joyce held a variety of positions. She began her work career as a stenographer at Anglo Canadian Oils in Brandon, and held positions at Manitoba Federation of Agriculture, Office Overload, Walter Wray Limited, Keewatin Community College, Niagara Community College, Niagara Cyclo Massage, Valley Royal Travel Services, McCallum Electric and Travel Smart. Joyce also worked at the Neepawa Health Unit for the Province of Manitoba until retiring in 2001. After retirement, Joyce enjoyed working at Alia and then Tan Jay stores. Of all her jobs, Joyce loved her time at the travel agencies the best! Joyce belonged to the Minnedosa 4-H Beef Calf Club; enjoying public speaking and judging competitions. While attending the 4-H meetings she met Harvey, her future husband. There is some truth in the saying, "4-H Ain't all Cows and Cookin'." When the family returned to the farm at Moore Park she was a 4-H Leader with the young people and assisted with cooking. Joyce also was involved with the Big Brothers and Sisters, UCT Minnedosa, Moore Park Community Hall Board, and the Mood Disorder Association of Manitoba. Joyce always enjoyed music, taking vocal lessons at the Brandon School of Music, now Brandon University, winning her class at the Virden Arts Festival, three years in a row in Vocal Studies. She often found humour in her situation, singing in The First Baptist Choir, while attending St. Michael's Academy and being raised Anglican. She and Harvey enjoyed curling at Roseneath Curling Club, Moore Park and taking in bonspiels in various towns around the area, even having a family rink one winter at Rapid City. "We didn't win many games but we had lots of fun," she later reminisced. With Harvey, she participated in 5-pin bowling in Minnedosa for over 10 years and enjoyed all the camaraderie, even winning her share of 'Skunk' pins over the years. With close friends Ramona and Cecil Sparrow, they enjoyed playing cards for over 56 years, (but have to admit the girls did not win their fair share of the games). Harvey and Joyce enjoyed dancing over the years, going on trips to visit family and friends, and delighted in celebrating their many years of marriage with friends and family. She has enjoyed travelling to Hawaii, Guatemala, New Orleans, England, Scotland and Wales, as well as cruising to Alaska and the Western Caribbean. Also, while working in the travel industry she made work trips to Fiji, Australia, British Isles, and a School at Sea Cruise. Joyce is survived by her husband of 60 years, Harvey, half- brothers Doug White and Ian (Petty) White of Brandon, son Ian and wife Barbara, Jocelyn (Ben), Sheri (Kris) and great granddaughter Isabella; son James and wife Amber, Jasmine (Andrew) and Sherris; daughter-in-law Debbie (Scott – deceased), Ashley (Mitch), Brandi and Carly and great grandchildren Madison Bjerregaard, Payton and Rhett Matthews. Joyce was predeceased by her parents Frederick and Eva Sherris, infant sister Loraine Eva, son Duncan Scott Douglas, sisters and brothers-in-law Maxine and Alex Douglas, Shelagh and Robert (Bob) Douglas and her half-brother William (Bill) White, along with many aunts, uncles and cousins. A Celebration of Joyce's Life will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Central United Church, 327-8th Street, Brandon at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Joyce may be made to the Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba, 4-940 Princess Ave., Brandon, MB R7A 4E9 or to the Manitoba Lung Association, 301-1 Wesley Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6.