Joyce Mullen

MULLEN, Emily Joyce
Born February 5, 1920 - Didsbury, AB
Died April 9, 2015 - Didsbury, AB

Joyce was born on the Morgan family farm to William Havard Morgan and Emily Maugerite (Wrightson) Morgan. She was their eldest daughter, and shared her childhool with sister, (Maugerite) Peggy; brother, Trevor and little sister, Gwyneth.

Joyce spent her entire life in Didsbury with the exception of th time she spent with the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division at three postings on Vancouver Island from 1943 to 1945. Upon her discharge from the services, she again went to work at the Didsbury Post Office with her father and continued her one passion of chasing a handsome young neighbor from down the road. Joyce told the story of how she chased George Mullen from the time she started school until she finally caught him, or George’s story of he was just tired of running. Joyce and George were married on August 23, 1949.

During her lifetime, Joyce lived her life one day at a time and did it her way. She was instrumental in putting Scouting on the front page of the Didsbury social calendar when she introduced a hockey program. To this day, many of those grown men will stop on the street and talk about their time in Cubs and Scouts and the later on, Beavers. In 1967, Joyce decided her Centennial project would be teaching art lessons, life lessons were also taught during these weekly sessions. Joyce still held her membership in the Scouts Canada for over 70 years.

Joyce was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Eastern Star, Rosebud Community Club, Canadian Porcelain Painters, DHS Alumni Reunion, Didsbury Gun Club and Scouts Canada.

Joyce received accolades and awards for her work with scouting, community involvement, legion participation from the Centennial medal to the Queen’s Jubilee medal in 2013, the silver acorn and the silver wolf from scouting.

Joyce and George raised two sons on the family farm which is now home to five generations.

Left to cherish the memory of their mother, grandmother and great grandmother are Larry and Grace, and Keith and Laurel, Karilea and Ryan Berg, Kent, Lance and Krystal, Cyndia and Keri Johnson, Angela and Darryl Manion, Alicia Chrest, Korbyn and Jaxon Berg, Sean, Jonathan, Eva, Casey, and Austin Mullen, Mathew and Andrew Johnson, Lucas and Miranda Manion, and Kennedy and Keaton Chrest.

Joyce is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Gwyneth and Glen Thompson; and their children, Rory and Tim Wolf, Terry and Gary Russell, David and Michelle, Cameron and Beverley and all their extended family; brother, Trevor and his family, Bill, Patricia and Alvin Billings, and Donnally McNeil and Rob Muir and all their extended family; sister, Peggy and John Rowland’s family, Megan and Frank Chapman, John and Grant and their extended family; sister-in-law, Helen Ausmus and her family, Yvonne and Ted Husch, Terry and Kathy Ausmus and Maureen Ausmuc and their extended family; brother-in-law, Lee and Mable Mullen’s family, Beverley and Stan Woodcock, Don and Ilene Mullen, Shirley Mullen’s  family; brother-in-law, Ken and Millie Mullen’s son, Roland and Leona and their extended family and the Wrightson family.

Joyce was predeceased by her parents, Emily and William Morgan; husband, George; brothers, Havard and Trevor; sister, Peggy; brother-in-law, John Rowland; twin grandsons, Kyle and Logan; parents-in-law, Julius and Susie; brother and sisters-in-law, Lee and Mable, Kenneth and Millicent; brother-in-law, Frank Ausmus; nieces, Lynn Muir and Shirley Mullen; and nephews, Donald, Richard and Jimmy Mullen, and Nile Ausmus.

At Joyce’s request, there will not be a Memorial Service, “they are too sad and solemn and I want fun, laughter, and happy times remembered”.

A Private Family Gathering will take place at a later date to lay both George and Joyce in their final resting place.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s memory may be made to the Legion Poppy Fund, c/o Olds Legion Branch #105, 5241 – 46 Street, Olds, AB, T4H 1H5 or to 1st Didsbury Scout Group Committee, Box 75, Didsbury, AB, T0M 0W0.