Joyce Jean Gish
Joyce Jean Gish, the eldest daughter of Harold and Jeanette (Shoup) Chapman, was born on July 21, 1934, in Springfield, Ohio. She entered that heavenly realm on January 27, 2022, at 8:03 p.m. after patiently enduring the past couple of weeks in the apartment she shared with Dad at the Luther Park Care Facility in Sandpoint, Idaho. Her sojourn here on earth was 87 years, 6 months, and 6 days.
Mother lived in Ohio throughout her life until recently relocating in July 2018 with Dad to Sandpoint to be near her daughter Nanette and her family.
Mother learned early about living on the farm when her parents bought the property on Route 40 just west of Vandalia, Ohio. There she flourished growing up along with her two younger sisters; Janice and Jacquelyn. Mother was especially blessed with a loving father and mother who were wonderful examples of how to love and care for others. The farm was a wonderful environment to learn how to care for animals, show hospitality to others and live the Christian life.
She especially enjoyed working with the animals but her love was the first pony she got for her 9th birthday, “Jeanie.” From that time forward until 2018, she surrounded herself with horses; both great and small. When the time came that the Arabians were too much for her, she found fulfillment in raising miniature horses, which she did for over 25 years. A special part of this miniature stable was that each of the offspring was named after her grandchildren. This made them all very special to her since her grandchildren lived out of state.
Mother and Dad first met when he came back from California to pick up his dad’s new Dodge car at the factory in Detroit, as it came off the line. Mother’s cousins, Ted Orndoff and Don Shoup were friends of Dad’s and introduced him to Mother. Dad asked her to come with him and the others to pick up the new car. As it turned out, 16-year-old Mother drove the new car home with Dad and Don and Ted drove back by themselves! This was the beginning of a cross-country courtship that lasted for five years with Dad making numerous road trips and one time making a complete nonstop trip after work on a Friday.
As Dad was already a committed believer; Mother felt the call of the Lord to be baptized, which she was on May 19, 1955, into the Salem District of the Old German Baptist Brethren Church. Soon after her conversion they were married at Mother’s home place by Elder Will Thomas on July 23, 1955. They spent the rest of their honeymoon that year in California until Dad finished working the harvest for Floyd Overholtzer. This loving marriage lasted for over 66 years.
Mother and Dad soon settled on a farm on Dog Leg Road near Tipp City, Ohio. To this union was born Nanette Jean and Harold James Gish. Mother was a loving and kind homemaker always supporting us and her husband. Our home was also open to many a soul that found their way up our driveway. She was a mother to many!
Left to mourn her passing is her beloved husband, Marvin; her daughter, Nanette Miller and her son Harold James; six grandchildren, Kate Haney and husband Ryan, Melissa Wray and husband Jamin, Heidi Root and husband Weston, Joshua Gish and wife Ursula, Cayla Villanueva and husband Jonathan, Ciara, Andres, and James Gish; and 18 great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her parents; her in-laws, John and Dorothy Gish; a son-in-law, Rodney Miller; and a brother-in-law, Keith Koble.
Mother will be remembered as an elegant lady that was given to hospitality with a gracious smile and a listening ear to many that came through her door.
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.” Proverbs 31:28
To leave a message or memory for the family please go to www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com. Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is caring for the family.