Joyce Gardner Bae

Joyce Gardner Bae, 86, of Orem, Utah, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, October 4, 2025. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel, 365 South 900 East, Orem, UT.

Joyce was born on November 10th, 1938, to Hugh Raymond Gardner and Alverta Later. She was their first living daughter after 16 years of marriage, so her parents named her Joyce because she brought such joy to them. She provided this joy throughout her long life to her husband Owen of 68 years, who preceded her in death only six months ago, as well as to her daughters Melodie Reece (Bryce), Janine Whitaker (Terry), Cheryl Flake (Jeff), and son Gary (Margarita), along with her 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She also blessed the lives of her two sisters, Betty Jo Rollins and Mary Lou Littlefield.

Joyce and her sisters learned the value of hard work on a 20-acre farm in Colusa, California, where her father had six acres of almonds and six acres of walnuts. They also helped their father keep bees by building frames and extracting honey, and they had plenty of cows, chickens, sheep, and pigs. Joyce loved being with “Daddy” as much as possible because he made her feel loved but, more importantly, he made her LAUGH. She also adored her beloved mother and had fond memories of many precious times with her. Sadly, she died unexpectedly of a postoperative surgical incision infection when Joyce was only 10 years old. This tragedy shaped her character as she learned from a young age how to survive on her own and to overcome hardships and trials.

Music was an important part of Joyce’s life. Her mother paid for piano lessons with eggs, honey, nuts, and butter. She was a talented pianist and a gifted vocalist, and she loved performing. In fact, when her good grades qualified her as salutatorian for her graduating class, she gave that speaking honor to her friend and chose to sing a solo at graduation instead! Money was scarce in her family, so in order to buy school clothes, Joyce held down several jobs after school and during the summer working in the dime store, at the drug store soda fountain, in the nut orchards, and at the movie theatre, always maintaining a high GPA along with a busy social life.

Joyce was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints her entire life, with her father serving as the Colusa branch president for many years. Ironically, it was through the Church that she eventually met Owen, the love of her life, who attended the Yuba City ward 24 miles away. Joyce often reminisced about the first time they met -- Owen played the ukulele and they sang songs together as they rode in the back of their friend’s car. She felt it was a match made in heaven. They were married in 1957 in the Salt Lake Temple.

Joyce was a stellar wife and mother as she and Owen raised their children in Red Bluff and then Chico, California. She supported Owen in his demanding job as high school band director for 38 years, fulfilled many Church callings, taught piano lessons for 40 years and “Kids Love Music” for 15 years in her home, and managed to find time to perform in community productions and a women’s singing group called the Bluesettes. She often accompanied Owen when he played his saxophone or clarinet for various functions, and she directed her renowned ward choir for years, which averaged about 60 participants.

Joyce loved a party. She never missed an opportunity to have fun with people, eat good food, and play board games or card games. She and her sisters had spent many hours together on the farm playing games after their chores were done, so Joyce became very skilled at winning, which she did frequently. She and Owen also enjoyed traveling, with cruises being their favorite trips, thanks to Joyce’s frugal skills saving money. They actually went on so many cruises that they started repeating destinations, and often they were recognized by the crews on the ships!

Joyce treasured her strong testimony of the gospel and often expressed it. She said that the gospel teachings guided her life, and she worked hard to instill this commitment in her children and grandchildren. This is how she expressed it in her own words: “Being together as a family in the eternities has been my main goal in life. I feel so blessed to have Owen as my eternal companion and the wonderful children and grandchildren who have blessed our lives. Since we have been sealed as a family for eternity, my goal is that I will be strong enough to endure to the end in righteousness and to be worthy enough to meet my Savior and my family when it is my turn to leave this earth.” We believe, without a doubt, that Joyce is there now . . . and still spreading joy.

A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the LDS Chapel located at 365 South 900 East, Orem, Utah 84097.

Orem Center Branch is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Joyce Bae Funeral

Time: Oct 18, 2025 10:00 AM Mountain Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/96263943720?pwd=9kdORTN3PUhWn7WCehcTnjNhgwbnIf.1

Meeting ID: 962 6394 3720

Passcode: 619410

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.