Joyce Anne Parmley passed away at her son’s home in Snohomish on Jan. 18, 2014. She was born Clara Roberta Mataresi on Jan. 24, 1926 to Italian immigrants Mario and Ida Mataresi. Upon her mother’s death in 1929, she and her sisters were placed in an orphanage and her newborn brother was adopted immediately. April 16, 1936, Joyce was adopted by Anne Bateman of Medford, Ore., and her name was changed to Joyce Anne Bateman. She was raised in Medford and was a member of the Methodist Church. Joyce attended Taylor University in Indiana and Willamette University in Oregon studying music. There was a ninth grade class prediction for Joyce, that she would be a “blues singer at the Coconut Grove.” Music was always a very important part of Joyce’s life.

October 19, 1947 she married Lewis Newell Parmley in Hernando, Miss. As a Navy wife she began the challenge of having and raising children all over the world. Her son Terry was born in Tennessee, daughter Cindy in Virginia, son David in Morocco, son Robert in Tennessee and son John in Okinawa. After stays in Oak Harbor and Texas she returned in 1963 to Oak Harbor. In 1969 she and her husband divorced and Joyce chose to make Oak Harbor her home.

The Seaplane Base Chapel was her first church in Oak Harbor. She began attending the First United Methodist Church during a time the congregation met in the Oak Harbor Movie Theatre. (The church was being rebuilt after a fire destroyed the existing church.) After becoming a member of the First United Methodist Church in 1972 she spent the next 38 years being an active member of the choir and numerous other church ministries. She had a special love for singing.

She retired in 1993 after working 22 years in various civil service departments of the Defense Logistics Agency at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station.

Joyce was preceded in death by her brother John Barkus, formerly of Marion County, Ore. and her daughter Cindy Parmley, formerly of Dallas, Ore. She is survived by her sisters Helen Frace of Portland, Ore.; and Beatrice Tucci of Portland, Ore., her sons Terry Parmley of Everett, Wash.; Dave Parmley of Seattle, Wash., Robert and Brenda Parmley, of Anacortes, Wash.; and John and Joanne Parmley (daughter of Margaret and Gene Loper of Oak Harbor) of Snohomish, Wash. Joyce also has 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Joyce stayed active throughout her retirement; traveling to the Oregon Coast and making trips to England and the Holy Land, and working with and for her church family. Though her last years were spent fighting Parkinson’s at her son John’s home in Snohomish, her heart was always in Oak Harbor.

Memorial services for Joyce Parmley will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 at the First United Methodist Church in Oak Harbor with Pastor Dave Johnson officiating.

Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences utilizing the Book of Memories hosted by Wallin Funeral Home at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.