OBITUARY FROM FLINTOFT'S FUNERAL HOME & CREMATORY:
Joyce Ann Mathias, April 9, 1932 - December 30, 2017
Born in McLeansboro, IL, on April 9th, 1932, Joyce came into this world a Midwest girl. She was the daughter of William Logan Gullic and Sarah Irene Gullic (Maulding). She is survived by her sister, Nancy Diane Bardos; husband, Richard Alan Mathias; and daughters, Sharon Denise Sherwood and Lori Joy Marquardt. Her son Richard William Mathias passed away in 2004. The family relocated to Hobart, IN, when she was 5 years old where she attended Mundell Elementary and Hobart Elementary. Fate had its way of arranging things as her and her future husband, Richard, were both in the same 5th grade class. As the bond was now put into motion, she continued her schooling and graduated from Hobart High School in 1950. The school mascot, the “Brickie,” was an homage to the brickyards that were historically located in Hobart, employing many people in the area. After high school, she attended Ball State University in Muncie, IN, for one year.
Joyce and Richard were married on May 15th, 1955, in Hobart. Their first home was in San Bernardino, CA, as Richard was finishing his career in the Air Force. They bought their first house together in Madeira, OH, in 1965. The big move was relocating the family (some of them reluctantly) all the way to the northwest corner of the country, the Evergreen State of Washington, in 1971. There they established roots in the suburban community of Fairwood, outside of Seattle. After raising the family, Joyce enjoyed several fond years at Nordstrom working in the Children’s Department where she dazzled with her one-of-a-kind customer service and got to enjoy two of her favorite things—children and fashion.
Joyce was a style and interior design aficionado, a grammar stickler, a proud American, a fun-loving spirit always up for a laugh, and most of all a loving and supportive presence for all of her family and friends. Her kindness and positivity were transcendent. She leaves us with a void that is not easy to fill, but her spirit keeps us going. Her legacy is carried on by her grandchildren, Alan, Carly, Darren, Steven, Katrina, and Scotty, and her great-granddaughter, Daphne.
Joyce will be laid to rest at Tahoma National Cemetery on Friday, January 5th, at 10:15 am. A celebration of life will be held at Fairwood Community United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 3rd, at 2:00 pm.
Memorial donations may be made to the Swedish Medical Center Foundation to support the practice of Dr. Chirag Shah at the Swedish Cancer Institute, which lovingly and expertly cared for Joyce. Donations may be made online at https://community.swedish.org/donate or via check made out to the “Swedish Medical Center Foundation” and sent to Swedish Medical Center Foundation, 747 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122. Please specify all donations as a tribute gift in honor of Joyce Ann Mathias.
This information and picture were obtained from: http://www.flintofts.com/obituary/Joyce-Ann-Mathias/Renton-Washington/1773837.