Joyce Gladys Luckey (Craig) passed away in the early morning hours of September 5th with her daughter Janice and her son Jayson by her side.  Born on October 1st, 1935 to Gladys and Millar Craig, Joyce and her two older brothers, Lloyd and Jim, grew up at Craig’s Ranch surrounded by rolling hills, green pastures, hay flats, babbling creeks, and all the typical farm animals of a working ranch.  Mom rode horseback to school on her favorite horse Nipper who played baseball with the kids at recess. She roamed the land around the ranch exploring nature and falling deeply in love with her natural surroundings. She was a 4-Her before it was officially 4-H but she did find it hard on her heart to give up the calves that she hand raised and told stories of the many tears she shed saying goodbye. A prairie girl through and through, she travelled many miles on horseback as a young girl and then later in life by car exploring and antiquing in every corner of her beloved province of Saskatchewan.

Joyce became a city girl when she married John in 1956. Determined and tenacious, she was just the right partner to encourage Dad to learn the meat cutting trade and she applied on his behalf for his first position in Kindersley.  They moved back to North Battleford where they bought into JB Lockers and she supported the business as it grew with a second job and keeping the books in the early days. She immersed herself in raising a family and involvement in community service as a Kinette. Janice came along in 1962 and 4 years later they welcomed Jayson into the family.

Joyce was a trailblazer and trend setter.  She decided that having a cabin at the lake was the best investment they could make and in 1968 after an exhaustive search she convinced John to purchase a little piece of heaven on the beach at Jackfish Lake. For years thereafter, each summer on the last day of school, the family packed up and moved to the lake. They did not set foot back in North Battleford until the day before school was to begin, except to attend North Battleford Territorial Days parade and one day at the fair. She also took up skiing as a way to embrace the winters, and soon the whole family including John had no choice but to join in, spending weekends during winters at Table Mountain.  There was always an annual spring ski trip to Jasper joined by the Gay, Thom, Shaw, Amussen, and McIntosh families to name a few.

Joyce also had a very creative side. She painted and became an avid photographer. She captured every milestone and experience she could. After Janice and Jayson set out on their own, she took an interior design course, eventually joining Joyce Interiors as a business partner.  She loved transforming spaces to reflect the character and lifestyle of her clients.  One project she was particularly proud of was at the Saskatchewan Hospital where she brought warmth and color to spaces for visiting family and the residents.

Joyce had many causes that she was passionate about and she was the biggest booster of Saskatchewan, and its agriculture roots. If you spoke ill of Saskatchewan, even in jest, you would never be on her Christmas Card list. She loved the work of the Battleford’s Historical Society and the preservation of the past. She dedicated time to documenting her own family’s history which she was very proud of.  She also contributed her time to the Sheltered Workshop (Battleford’s Trade and Education Centre) and AMGITS – Saskatchewan Hospital Foundation. Later in life she was deeply interested in indigenous reconciliation spending many hours in conversations through “Building Bridges” and she attended the pardon of Chief Poundmaker by Prime Minister Trudeau.

Joyce and John had a very wide social circle and weekends were filled with dinner parties, events, and celebrations. They travelled extensively. Of all her travels, she fell in love with Mexico where they vacationed as many winters as possible. When John passed in 2007, Mom relied on her friends to help her through and she kept expanding her social circle throughout her life. Shopping trips, golf trips,   lunches and concerts, she was always on the go and rarely relaxed for more than a day.  Her cabin and the farmhouse that she renovated back at her home ranch were her refuge and she appreciated the beauty and solace they offered.

And yet, by far the greatest passion she had in life was for her children and grandchildren – Shannon, Graham, Hailey, Chelsea and Courtney.  She was a very active participant in all their lives and never missed an opportunity to pick them up for time with Grandma especially at the lake or to go fishing or to the farm. She hosted countless Christmases, Thanksgivings and Easters and attended every milestone possible in their lives. Nothing made her prouder than seeing them grow and she couldn’t wait to see what they did next. She didn’t get to meet her first Great Granddaughter, Mila, but her face would light up when she saw pictures, and if she could have she would have been right there awaiting her arrival.

Joyce was a fiercely independent woman, and when that abruptly came to an end for her in January due to a fall and subsequent stroke, she struggled to see the light. Her love of her family kept her with us for these months but we all agreed it was time for her to be with her loved ones on the other side.

She is the finest example of how to live a life filled with the riches and abundance of loving human connections and deep reverence for Mother Earth. She teaches us that the appreciation of the seemingly ordinary blessings of life add up to an extraordinary life well lived.

Left to carry on her legacy are her children: Janice (Alan) Myers, Jayson (Donna) Luckey, her grandchildren: Shannon, Graham and Hailey Myers, Chelsea Selinger, Courtney Luckey and great- granddaughter, Mila Maria Myers; cousins: Robbie Ingvardson (Betty), Gladys (Dave) Byers; sisters-in-law: Ann Haubrick, Sylvia Kotchorek, Diane Sawarin, Helen Stephenson; numerous nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews on both the Craig and Luckey side.

The family would like to express sincere gratitude to Lars and Brenda Nissen for caretaking at the cabin, Marilyn Nikiforuk for being our eyes and ears when we were unable to be with mom, Gordy and Shelley Craig for being there when we couldn’t and to all the doctors, nurses and care workers who supported mom at the Battlefords Union Hospital and Harwood Manor and finally, to everyone who has called, sent flowers, messages and love during this difficult time.

“Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality.” Emily Dickinson

Funeral Service for Joyce will be held Wednesday, September 11, 2024 – 2:00 p.m. at Third Avenue United Church, North Battleford, SK with Reverend Jo Ann Hills as officiant. Memorial donations in her loving memory may be made to Saskatchewan 4-H – https://www.4-h.sk.ca/foundation.html  or the Battlefords Historical Society http://www.saskhospitallegacytrail.ca/. Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Eternal Memories Funeral Service and Crematorium – Vanessa Macnab Funeral Director.

• Date : 2024-09-09
• Location : North Battleford, SK