Joyce Hess, 78

Joyce Hess, 78, passed away following a long illness on Sunday, April 18, 2004, in Sandpoint.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 23, 2004, at Coffelt's Moon Chapel with Pastor Tori Hicks from the United Methodist Church officiating.

Joyce was born on Dec. 8, 1925, in St. Louis, Mo. She grew up and attended schools in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and spent her summer months at the northern part of Vancouver Island, living in the logging camp with her mother and stepfather.

During World War II, Joyce worked in the office at the shipyards in Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada, on Vancouver Island. She came to the United States during the war and worked for Schlage Lock Co. and United Airlines in the San Francisco Bay area.

She married Robert "Bob" Hess on May 30, 1956, in Sacramento, Calif. She lived in San Jose, Calif., until 1961 when she moved to Fry Creek in Sagle.

Joyce worked for Don Largeant at his title company, was an assistant librarian to Joan Head at the school and also worked at the Sandpoint News Bulletin.

Joyce received her associate's degree in science by attending satellite campus course offered by North Idaho College in Sandpoint. She began taking classes in the fall of 1971 and finished in the spring of 1990 when a lab science course was offered in Sandpoint. Joyce wanted to prove you could receive a college education in Sandpoint and received special recognition by NIC for her efforts.

Joyce was active in politics with the Democratic Party. She enjoyed playing cards, especially bridge.

She enjoyed her walks across the Long Bridge with her friends, being outdoors and traveling, going to Canada and England. She also was an avid reader.

She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Bob Hess of Sagle; her son and daughter-in-law, Lenny and Nancy Hess of Sandpoint; three grandchildren, Marita (Adam) Huber of Baraboo, Wis., Caleb Bowman of Palo Alto, Calif., and Clay Bowman of Sandpoint; a cousin and his wife, Lynn and Sylvia Watt of Victoria, British Columbia; a brother-in-law and his wife, Leslie and Irene Hess of Tacoma, Wash. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.