Joyce Edwards

Joyce Claire (Shamley) Edwards passed away peacefully at The Springs at Grand Park on June 20, 2024. She was a month short of celebrating her 80th birthday.

Joyce was born to Richard and Claire (McCurdy) Shamley on July 25, 1944. She was the middle child, with older brother Dick and younger sister Judy. She attended Broadus / Powder River schools where she made life-long friends.

Joyce married Wade Edwards at St. David's Church in Broadus on March 21, 1964. They attended Montana State College in Bozeman, where their daughter Teresa Ann was born in 1965. Both Joyce and Wade graduated from the now Montana State University with degrees in education and began teaching in Billings.

Joyce taught Home Economics for 30 years at Will James Junior High / Middle School. While they were teaching, Joyce spent much of her spare time creating what her brother liked to call her "dough boys" which she gave as gifts and sold at the teachers' craft fair.

During the summers, Wade and Joyce travelled frequently to visit family and friends. They saw the country from Alaska to Hawaii, from Maine to California – much of it in their motor home.

When she retired, Joyce had even more time to enjoy crafting. She continued to sew and paint and make hundreds of personalized dough art characters. But she also discovered a new love. She was introduced to rubber stamp art and became obsessed with making greeting cards. With her daughter Terri, she attended stamping parties and conventions with fellow rubber maniacs, took and taught classes and gathered so many stamps and card-making supplies that she remodeled a room of her home so that mother and daughter could work without getting in each other's way (most of the time). Many happy hours were spent creating together.

Joyce remained busy after Wade's death. She lunched frequently to keep in touch with her many friends and was active in the church. She enjoyed walking (and talking) with various groups.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, brother Dick and beloved husband Wade.

Joyce is survived by her daughter Terri, her sister Judy and a large extended family of in-laws, cousins, nephews and nieces.

The funeral mass will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Billings MT on Friday, July 12th at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Pius X Catholic Church.