Joyce Beverly (Hansen) Eyer

Joyce Beverly (Hansen) Eyer went to be with her Heavenly Father on December 29th. She was born August 13, 1925 to Laurits and Annie Hansen, Danish immigrants, in Bellingham, Wa. She was the youngest of 14 children and the last survivor of her generation. She married Lyle Eyer in 1948 and they were married 60 years until his death in 2009. Together, they raised three children.
Joyce was raised in their Bellingham family home. The family was active in their church and she regularly attended services and summer camp. When her mother suffered strokes, both at Joyce's birth and later when she was a pre-schooler, she was cared for by older sisters and other church families. She enjoyed music and became an accomplished piano player. In 1943 she graduated from Bellingham High School.

After her father died her senior year, she moved to Tacoma where she lived with her sister Ann and husband at their parsonage. She was hired as Secretary to the Shipyard Superintendent and played piano on a Christian radio show. She late moved to Kelso to care for her mother and work as a legal secretary. It was there that she met and married Lyle. After marriage, they purchased several acres of view property that they platted and sold for new homes, keeping three lots on which to build their own home. Joyce helped design and build their home while raising their first child. They lived, and raised their family, in this home for 50 years. They also bought and improved a small cabin at Ocean Park where they vacationed.

Joyce was active with family, school and church activities during those early years, only periodically working as a Legal Secretary for extra family income. But when the children were older, she went back to work full-time--first as Secretary for Family Court, later as a Probation Officer, and finally as Chief Probation Officer for Cowlitz County. During this time she worked closely with the courts, substance abuse treatment centers and other community services. She was able to travel to conferences around the state and nation to which Lyle accompanied her. She joined toastmasters, walked a mile to work most days and became an accomplished acrylics painter. She joined a Bible Study and PEO groups, the members of which became life-long friends. She and Lyle became "regulars" each Winter at a favorite spot in Maui, where they often hosted their kids and grandkids.

When she retired, they traveled more and played some golf. She organized and drove for Senior outings at the Church and they volunteered at the FISH foodbank program. She would often play piano and Lyle would sing. When they could no longer keep up the family home, they moved to Crista Shores in Silverdale near their kids and grandkids. There she made new friends, joined the local PEO group, invited dozens of new Crista residents in for her famous apple pie, played piano for Crista events and took up water painting. Six times a year, she changes the color scheme of her apartment with her paintings, pillows and flowers. She also regularly organized birthday parties for her kids, their spouses and grandkids and sent many hand-painted cards.

She is survived by her children Lauritz (Mary), Mark (Suzanne) and Camille (David); grandchildren Jared and Mike, Kelsey and Joe, and Kevin and Lauren; nieces and nephews from the Hansen family; nieces and nephews from the Eyer family; and many good friends. She was often described as kind, elegant and loving, and is remembered as a wonderful mom, grandmother, aunt and friend.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Central Kitsap Presbyterian Church on January 31 at 1:30pm. Memorial gifts may be made to: New Life International, Children of the Nations and/or World Vision.