Joyce Furniss Nelson, 89, died peacefully of heart failure Dec. 31, 2009 in Tooele, Utah.
Joyce was born to William and Rhoda Moulton Furniss Oct. 25, 1920 in Bates, Idaho. She graduated from Teton High School in 1938 and attended Ricks College for a year.
Joyce married Wayne Nelson Oct. 18, 1939 in Bates. They had a dry farm in Clementsville and were parents of ten children. Later they lived in Teton City. For the past four years, Joyce lived with her daughter Jeanne Jeppesen in Tooele.
If relationships equal riches, Joyce was wealthy indeed. She treasured most her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and there was ample room in her heart for extended family, friends and neighbors. She made each person feel loved, special and unique. She presided over an annual family reunion at their farm home and graciously received wildflowers from children of all ages.
She was the "Cookie Grandma" to family and generations of children in Teton City.
Preceding her in death were Wayne; two daughters, Holly Joyce and Brenda Nelson Anderson; three grandsons, Owen Anderson, Brett Anderson and Hyrum Clark; her parents; eight brothers and two sisters.
Joyce is survived by eight children: Judy (Glenn) Scoble of San Pedro, CA; Bruce Nelson of Shelley, ID; Ellen (Kerry) Frazier of Downey, ID; Jeanne (Alan) Jeppesen of Tooele, UT; Rex (SuLin) Nelson of Logan, UT; Debra (Norman) Holm of Nampa, ID; Andrea (Ross) Clark of Mansfield, OH; Shanan (Kelly) Cameron of Irvine, CA; a son-in-law, Sherrell Anderson of Mansfield, OH; 44 grandchildren and 63 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bud (Jean) Furniss of Rupert, ID and John (Verla Jean) Furniss of Ammon, ID; and sister-in-law Marie Furniss of Blackfoot, ID.
Joyce was dearly loved and will be missed. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the F. Wayne and Joyce Nelson Family Living Trust for the purpose of supporting descendants' labors as missionaries. (checks payable to Shanan Cameron, who is treasurer.) FWN and JN Living Trust c/o Shanan Cameron / 4171 Blackfin Ave. / Irvine CA 92620
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 8, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. in the Teton 2nd LDS Ward Chapel. The family will receive friends Thursday, January 7, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Bert Flamm Mortuary (581 E. 1st N., St. Anthony) and Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the church. Burial will be in the Teton-Newdale Cemetery.