Joyce Mae Pierpoint

Joyce Pierpoint of Corvallis passed away Sunday afternoon at T’s Heart Elder Care; she was 83. Joyce was born in Emmett, Idaho, the second of three children born to Earl and Iris Atkinson. The family moved to Alsea Oregon. Joyce’s mother, Iris, passed away when Joyce was eight years old. Peg Hall (later known as “Peg the Pie Lady”) joined the family a few years later to help care for the children. Peg loved them like they were her own, endearing herself to Earl; they married about a year later. Joyce was raised in Alsea and enjoyed the opportunities offered by the community, including fishing for crawdads alongside the Alsea River, using a string with a fish hook attached. Growing up with two brothers, she learned at an early age how to survive the teasing and taunting they (lovingly) threw her way. As Joyce was a petite person, these survival skills served her well! Joyce attended school in Alsea and graduated in 1950. She later attended Linn Benton Community College. Joyce married Orville Pierpoint and they had one daughter, Nancy. Joyce enjoyed being a mother and spent time taking Nancy and other Camp Fire Girls on field trips. One of the field trips concluded with a stop at the Farmer’s Kitchen (Grandma Peg’s restaurant) for a special treat. Joyce worked as a telephone operator in Corvallis before starting her career with the U.S. Forest Service. She worked in the Alsea and Baker City, Oregon, offices, retiring in 1994. After retiring, Joyce moved to Philomath, Oregon, and then settled in Corvallis. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Orville. She is survived by her brothers, Walt (Joyce) Atkinson of Corvallis, and Keith Atkinson of Albany; her daughter, Nancy Murphry; granddaughters Melody Pierpoint and Paula Lingle; great grandchildren John Halligan, Crycel Strawn, Jerald Strawn, Tyler Swaden, Chad Reeds, McKinna Turner; and a host of nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Teri and Matt of T’s Heart Elder Care for the loving care they gave Joyce during her final days. A funeral service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, December 19th at McHenry Funeral Home in Corvallis, followed by a graveside service at Riverside Cemetery in Albany. The casket will be open one hour before the service.

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Joyce Mae Pierpoint

January 14, 1932 - December 13, 2015