Joyce Elaine Splane
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Joyce Elaine Splane, 94, of Bayview, Washington, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by her family on December 2, 2021. Joyce was born on September 6, 1927 to Charles B. and Lavene E. Long in Oregon City, Oregon. Joyce spent her early childhood in Quilcene and Port Townsend. She attended elementary school in Anacortes. Her junior high and high school years were spent in Bellingham, Washington, and she graduated from Bellingham High in 1945.
During the war years, Joyce's two brothers, William T. Long, and Roy Eugene Long served in the military. Joyce also aided the war effort by joining the Home Defense League. This group of teenagers learned to spot Japanese planes. She was ready and able to notify the civil authorities if she saw one.
Joyce's father, Charles, was one of the first Game Wardens for the State of Washington. Her childhood consisted of many happy times in the forests and streams of Western Washington. During the summers she and her mother picked berries and beans. In the afternoons she and her friends went swimming at Lake Whatcom. Every summer the Game Department would have an annual Salmon Bake at Whatcom Falls. Little did she know then that her future spouse, Jim Splane, Game Warden Maurice Splane's son, was also attending the same picnics. Jim was two years older, and he remembered her as a little blonde-haired girl.
Joyce married Douglas Walker in 1947. They owned their own fishing boat, and spent many idyllic summers fishing on the Olive T in Southeast Alaska. Later, they owned a Horticultural Peat Moss business up on Bow Hill and shipped it to nurseries across Western Washington and British Columbia.
Joyce married James E. (Jim) Splane in 1971. They were members of Pheasants Forever, and enjoyed building habitat for these birds. The highlight of each fall was hunting pheasants throughout Eastern Washington, and South Dakota.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, and husband Jim Splane. Joyce is survived by her children Suzanne (Doug) Knutzen of Ilwaco, WA and Jim (Rocky) Walker of Yelm, WA; Step Children are Gloria (Mike) Splane Hart & Marie (Ian Drinkwater) Splane of Jacksonville, Florida. Joyce had 3 grandchildren, Kari Knutzen of Long Beach, WA, Keith (Yvonne) Knutzen of Osawatomie, Kansas, and Kaylin (Jason) Culver of Orangevale, California. She also has 6 great grandchildren: James, Jon, Isaac & Hannah Hamilton, and Payton & Beckham Culver.
When Joyce Splane was young, she loved to grow flowers, make jams and pies, and many other things. She spent some of her happiest hours with her dogs and cats. Through the years she taught others, and now they continue the work she began. Throughout her life, she loved to read & sing, and now many other family members and friends also read & sing. Joyce's gifts continue to bless the world through those who knew & loved her
A celebration of life will be held at Edison Lutheran Church on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 11 a.m. The church requires masks and social distancing. Guests who prefer to attend the service in their cars may do so, and listen to the service on their car radios. Edison Lutheran's webpage has a Facebook link which will become active during the service, so guests can also choose to attend virtually. A short graveside committal will follow the church reception. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Skagit County Humane Society of Skagit Valley, 18841 Kelleher Road, Burlington, WA 98233 would be most welcome. Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home. You may offer your condolences and share memories of Joyce to her family online at www.kernfuneralhome.com.