Joyce Jackson McAllister beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother returned to her Father in Heaven on Friday, August 28th, 2020.
Mom was born on September 7, 1937 in Kanab, Utah to Lorum Elmer and Leah Meeks Jackson. She married Evan Burton McAllister in the Salt Lake City Temple on September 11, 1958. They raised 5 children Marcy (Rod) Hadean, Draper, UT, Monica (Scott) Fielding, Sandy, UT, Mark B. (Jamie) McAllister, Heber, UT, Matthew J. (Andrea) McAllister, American Fork, UT, Michele (‘Afa) Vasi, Cedar City, UT. Mother attended most of her senior high school year at BY High in Provo and then returned to graduate with her class at Kanab High School in 1955. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. After mom and dad finished their education they returned to Kanab. Mom spent the majority of her teaching years at Kanab Elementary, teaching various elementary grades throughout her career. She loved teaching as much as she was loved by her students. She was a Master Teacher and loved helping other teachers improve their practice. She was honored by the Utah State Legislature as an outstanding educator. Mother served in numerous church capacities in Primary, Young Women’s, and Relief Society, including serving in many presidencies.
Mom grew up like most families in the Kanab area of that time, ranching and farming. She enjoyed spending her summers on the Kaibab Forest where her parents summered their cattle. (Her father and brothers affectionately named a reservoir after her as Joyce’s Mudhole a name she never did appreciate). Later Mom and Dad bought EJ Cattle Company from the Jackson family and operated it for years. They built two homes in Kanab. The first one in town and the second one on the north edge of town. This was their dream home, plus to us all a little slice of heaven on earth. They had plenty of room to raise children, grow crops, have animals and mostly work and grow together as a family. To this day we still all enjoy Mom and Dad’s seven acres of heaven. She loved being surrounded by family and was always her happiest when we were here visiting. When we were all here visiting there was enough room to fill the house with grandkids and just be together under one roof. We will always see her standing on the front porch, waving goodbye, wishing we could stay.
Several other things that mother enjoyed in her retirement years were being a part of the local ATV club with Dad. She also enjoyed volunteering her time with Western Legends, reading books, and going to lunch with friends.
Mother was preceeded in death by her parents, her brother Bob, and her sweetheart of 52 years, Evan. She is survived by her 5 loving children, 18 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and her 2 brothers, Valton (Afton) Jackson, of Kanab, UT, and Norman (Ruth) Jackson, of Sundance, UT.
A viewing will be held Friday, September 4, from 6-8 pm at the Mosdell Mortuary located at 676 South Highway 89A, Kanab, UT. Preceeding the services Saturday at 12, a viewing will be held from 11:00-11:45. Following the funeral interment will be at the Kanab City Cemetery.
The Funeral Service will be on a Live Stream at the link below. Available from 10 minutes before until 10 minutes after the service.
We are experiencing a technical issue at this time. The live cast will be up shortly. 12:08 PM – Christian
https://iframe.dacast.com/b/101390/c/530237
A Recording of the services will be posted on our website a few days after the services.
We will remember her as Aunt Joyce, one of the kindest and most giving Aunt we had the privilege to know. Love to all from Jane and Rob Jackson
Your mom was a wonderful person. I will always remember her kindness and great sense of humor. I have such great memories hanging out at your house during my summer visits to Kanab as a kid. Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts at this time.
I taught with Joyce for many years in Kanab Elementary. Sne was my sidekick, mentor, and friend.. We spent many hours on professional projects, then started traveling together to workshops and conferences. I have good memories of long talks in motels at the end of the day. We continued those on our pre-dawn , rain-or-shine walks around Kanab before school. Joyce was my example ff parenting wisdom and I used her advice when my own kids came along. She passed on such wisdom as how to get your teenagers home by curfew and they worked!
i remember Joyce as she faced illness, crisis, ostriches, and her very favorite times of all when her children were all home at once. What a close family they were and how proud and happy they made her..
I taught with Joyce for many years in Kanab Elementary. Sne was my sidekick, mentor, and friend.. We spent many hours on professional projects, then started traveling together to workshops and conferences. I have good memories of long talks in motels at the end of the day. We continued those on our pre-dawn , rain-or-shine walks around Kanab before school. Joyce was my example ff parenting wisdom and I used her advice when my own kids came along. She passed on such wisdom as how to get your teenagers home by curfew and they worked! She was an excellent teacher and a great lady.