Joyce (Wayne) Smalling

Joyce Wayne Smalling was welcomed to Heaven on March 10, 2021. She passed away peacefully at her home.

She was born March 21, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan to Einar & Elaine Wayne.

She and her husband graduated from San Jose State University. They were the first married couple ever to graduate together, so they had their picture in the newspaper. She spent her life between her two homes in Holtville, California and Watsonville, California. She retired to her Watsonville lake house, where she enjoyed going to the gym daily, gardening, bird watching, pets and worldly travels. Her passions were family, friends, teaching, travel, and exercise. She always had a smile on her face and saw the best in everything. Joyce was always cracking jokes and laughing out loud. She was always kind, generous and full of compliments. Joyce was the most wonderful, loving daughter, spouse, mother, grandmother, coworker, mother-in-law, and friend, Joyce's kind energy and loving spirit will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph L. Smalling, "the love of her life" and her sister Lyn A. Wayne, "her best friend". She is survived by her brother, Ken J. Wayne, her daughters, Kirsten Smalling Leon, Kara Smalling Bigsby, granddaughter Gracie Mangan, sons-in-law, Jeff Leon and Mark Bigsby.

Joyce will be missed dearly until the family is reunited with her at the Rainbow Bridge so they can spend eternity in Heaven together forever!!

Joyce's Legacy

A wife, a mother, a grandma too,

This is the legacy we have from you.

You taught us love & how to fight,

You gave us strength, you gave us might.

A stronger person would be hard to find,

And in your heart, you were always kind.

You fought for us all in one way or another,

Not just a wife, not just a mother.

For all of us, you gave your best,

Now the time has come for you to rest.

So go in peace, you've earned your sleep,

Your love in our hearts we'll eternally keep.

Mehl's Colonial Chapel has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Published in The Pajaronian · April 9, 2021