Joyce Reynolds Coupal, 87
Joyce Reynolds Coupal, 87, passed away quietly on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. (MST) on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 at the Heron Methodist Church, in Heron, Mont., with Pastor T.J. Parker officiating.
Joyce was born on Jan. 29, 1929 in Bilaspur, India, to Herman and Mildred Reynolds. The family were missionaries in India, where Joyce grew up playing with native children and attending boarding school in the Himalayan Mountains. Joyce moved to the United States when she was 15 years old to stay with her aunt and finish high school. Her aunt introduced Joyce to her friend’s son, Frank, who was a handsome young man in a uniform. He would later tease that it was an arranged marriage. She earned her bachelor’s degree in registered nursing degree from Columbia University in New York, while exchanging letters with Frank at an Army post in faraway Alaska.
Joyce married Frank Coupal on June 16, 1951, in Lynchburg, Va., her father officiating. Joyce worked part-time in hospitals, clinics and schools, while raising five children. Retiring to Noxon, Mont., in 1983, Joyce became even busier with her beloved church family at Noxon United Methodist Church, Noxon Ambulance, and a wide variety of community volunteering. She and Frank received an award as Senior Citizens of the Year in Montana for their numerous efforts in supporting their community.
Joyce is the dearly loved wife of Frank for over 65 years. Her children, their spouses, and grandchildren basked in her love and laughter. She taught them to treat everyone with respect and love and use laughter to make life fun. Joyce extended her sense of family to the friends she made easily while moving 14 times during her marriage. She made a place in her own heart for so many, and she will live on in the hearts of those who loved her. She now prepares a place for those to join her when their time comes.
Joyce is survived by her husband, Frank Coupal; five children, Edward Coupal of Auburn, Wash., Roger (Christiane) Coupal of Laramie, Wyo., David (Jo Ann) Coupal of Noxon, Carole (Lenny) Thorell of Sandpoint, and James (Melissa) Coupal of Austin, Texas; 10 grandchildren; her sister, Virginia Nolan of Walnut Creek, Calif.; and her brother, Dr. Roger (Ruth) Reynolds of Henderson, Nev.
Memorial donations may be made to Noxon United Methodist Church, PO Box 184, Noxon, MT 59853; Noxon Ambulance PO Box 170, Noxon, MT 59853; or to a nurturing charity of your choice.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Joyce’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign her guest book.