Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, family matriarch, best friend, community pillar, secretary, volunteer, creative, generous, and caring.
Joyce Earline (Sullivan) Engle passed away suddenly on Sept. 17, 2021, in Port Townsend, Washington. She was born Feb. 6, 1943, in Springfield, Illinois. Joyce was the eldest of three children born to Earl Sullivan Jr. and Carol Joyce (Lahmon) Sullivan. She attended Healdsburg schools, graduating high school with the Class of 1959.
On Nov. 14, 1959 Joyce married Charles Alden Mathews in Reno, Nevada. Five children were born to the couple; Belynda D. (Mathews) Hirschel, Theresa L. (Mathews) Bishop, Timothy A. Mathews, Cynthia J. (Mathews) Bishop, Jason E. Mathews. After 12 years their marriage dissolved in 1972.
Sept. 21, 1973, Joyce E. (Sullivan) Mathews married Jim Engle, in Port Townsend. They joined her five children and his three children creating a family of eight. December of 1974 Joyce and Jim had a daughter Loretta Dawn Engle, which would make child number nine, binding the family together.
Joyce’s secretary skills developed her senior year in high school, by being an assistant secretary in 1959. Though she was primarily a homemaker most of her married life, she provided daycare for many working families which she ran out of the family home. She was a “room mom” as all the kids went through school. A Troop leader #1420 & #926 for Girl Scouts 1969-1972. Eagles, inside guard 1967-1968. East Jefferson Little League secretary and treasurer for baseball 1973-1979. PTA served as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Membership chairman 1971-1973. Jefferson County Fairboard secretary 1970-1988. Port Townsend Fire Ladies Auxiliary secretary 1987-1989. Jefferson County 4-H program Leader and Project leader 1986-1993, teaching veterinary science, knitting, sewing, rabbits, photography, cooking, and horse. She was the secretary for the 4-H Leader Council and Livestock Council during that time as well.
She was preceded in death by her father Earl Sullivan, her step-father Stuart Peterson, brother Larry Sullivan, brother-in-law Bob Engle, brother-in-law Don Derkland, aunt Alice (Lahmon), and her beloved husband James E. Engle.
She is survived by her 96-year-old mother Carol; sister Diane; brother-in-law Len (Terri) Engle; sister-in-law Ellen Derkland; sister-in-law Jan (Dan) Olson; sister-in-law Cheryl Engle, her children and their children; Belynda D. Hirschel, her children (Derreck [Kelly], Patrick, Melanie [Nick], Hailey, and Shawn); Theresa L. Bishop and her children (Justin [Kristina] and Austin [Tyler Marie]); Timothy A. Mathews and his children (Dwight, Dakota and Cordell); Cynthia J. Bishop and her children (Jeremy [Alexa] and Britt); and Jason E. Mathews, daughter Loretta (Engle) and Tim Nelson and their children (Tyler, Willie and Brandie). Also surviving are Jim’s three children and their children: son, James F. Engle and Carla (David); son Michael and Maryann Engle, and their children Erin (Tim Walstad), Dalton (Amy Engle) and Miranda Engle; and daughter Jana (Engle) Bast and her children, Riley and Mitchell Bast.
She was a proud grandmother to all 24, proud great-grandma to all 23.
Joyce was cremated under the direction of Kosec Funeral of Port Townsend.
There will be a celebration of life at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds (Oscar Erickson Bldg), at 1 p.m. Oct. 9. Wear something bright; she loved a lot of color. In lieu of flowers, remembrance may be made to Jefferson County Fair, Jefferson County 4-H, or Girl Scouts.
