Loyce Larain Prior died peacefully at her home in Oak Harbor on April 26, 2014 at the age of 84.

She was born in Michigan on July 10, 1929 to August and Vivian Porth and was one of 11 children.

As a very young child she moved with her family to Yetter, Iowa.

Loyce attended a one-room country school during her elementary grades and then graduated from Lake City High School in Iowa. Following graduation, she remained at home, helping care for her 10 siblings.

She met a young man in Yetter, Wayne Prior. On March 15, 1944, she and Wayne were married in Ft. Dodge, Iowa.

Wayne was on active duty with the U.S. Navy and Loyce became a military spouse. The Prior Family grew with the addition of four children.

The Navy took them to Key West, Fla., for three years and then sent Wayne to sea. Loyce went back to Iowa to live with Wayne’s parents during his deployment.

Returning to shore duty, the family moved to Maryland, on to Memphis, then Jacksonville and Stanford, Fla. Loyce was a stay-at-home mom, caring for her family. In 1959, the Prior’s arrived at NAS Whidbey.

Oak Harbor was to be their permanent home.

Loyce was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary, Fleet Reserve Association Branch no. 97, the Supreme Emblem Club no. 450 and the Ladies Auxiliary Veterans of Foreign Wars Whitehead-Muzzall Post no. 7392, all of Oak Harbor. She enjoyed crocheting, collecting magazines and was an avid doll collector.

Loyce is survived by her husband of 65 years, Wayne, at the family home; three children, Linda Sieffert and husband George of Rio Vista, Calif., Thomas and Linda Prior of Bremerton, Wash., and Wallace Prior of Isleton, Calif.; and two sisters, Lavon Hurter of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Vicky Morey of Lewisville, Texas. Four grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by one son, Dennis Prior, in 1966.

A Celebration of Life for Loyce Prior will be held 2 p.m. Friday, May 9, 2014, at Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, with Chaplain David Lura, USNR (Ret) officiating. Interment will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor.

Friends and family are encouraged to visit Loyce’s page in the Book of Memories at www.wallinfuneralhome.com to share memories and condolences.