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Joyce Harmel Obituary
November 25, 1940 - January 23, 2026
Santa Maria - Joyce Harmel passed away peacefully Friday morning January 23, 2026 at the age of 85 in Santa Maria, CA after a long fight with Dementia.
Joyce Carol Julson was born November 25, 1940 in Plaza, North Dakota to Aubrey Julson and Leona (Jorgenson) Julson. She was 1 of 5 children, and attended the local school until graduating High School in 1958. After graduation, she moved with her close friend Sharon to Fargo, North Dakota to attend business college. After business college, she worked as a librarian in Fargo, and soon met the love of her life Richard Harmel.
Joyce and Richard were married on June 2, 1963 in Plaza, ND. They made their home in Fargo, ND while Richard finished school at North Dakota State University, and in 1966, they moved to Lompoc, CA and a year later to Orcutt, CA where they raised a family and lived for 58yrs. She worked as a bookkeeper for a local fence company for 30+ years, and retired in 1997 to travel extensively with Richard and friends.
Joyce was very active in retirement walking daily, volunteering at the Senior center in Orcutt and Marion Medical Center Hospital, playing Bonco with her friends, and quilting with the Quilting Guild in Old Orcutt. She regularly took classes at Allen Hancock Junior College, and spent countless weekends enjoying her grandchildren. Joyce loved visiting family and classmates in North Dakota and Minnesota every summer, and she traveled extensively with close friends.
Joyce will be remembered as a gentle and kind soul, an amazing cook, a wonderful wife, an amazing mother, and a fantastic grandmother and great grandmother. We are blessed to have had such a special Mom, Grandmother, and Great Grandmother in our lives. She is survived and loved by her children Scott Harmel (Reno, NV), Stephanie (Harmel) Rolando (Santa Maria, CA), 3 grandchildren (Travis, Mallory, and Aubrey), and 1 great granddaughter (Layla). She is preceded in death by her parents Aubrey and Leona, husband Richard, sister LaVonne, and 3 brothers Keith, Ronnie, and Curtis.
A celebration of life is planned for July 11th in Orcutt, CA - details will follow. Looking forward to seeing friends and family enjoy a Santa Maria style BBQ, and celebrate the life of Joyce.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Joyce Harmel
Sponsored by Dudley-Hoffman Mort, Crematory & Memory Gardens.
6 Entries
Nancy Snyder
February 19, 2026
Joyce lived around the corner and when her grandkids came to visit she´d have all the neighborhood kids hanging out at her house. She was a special person and loved by so many.
Brenda Martin
February 18, 2026
Joyce was just the best human being I´ve met in a very long time. Always smiling and so happy, and she was a perfect hostess. Played bonco with her, loved it when it was her turn to host, she always made a couple of different soups! It was always a treat to eat soup at her house. We always played bunco in January at her house so we also got to indulge in her leftover homemade Christmas candies! Such a sweet lady, rest well my friend.
Cindy Alvarado
February 18, 2026
I played Bonco with Joyce for years. I always looked forward to seeing her each month and loved her soups on the month she hosted Cindy Alvarado
Martha Montgomery
February 18, 2026
Joyce was such a special friend to me. We often rode together to Bonco and shared many lunch dates! She has and will be missed!
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Bob Jimenez
February 18, 2026
I was privileged to have met Mrs Harmel back in 1983 when I also had the privilege to coach their son, Scott who was an excellent student & HS football player @Righetti HS (Class of '85). My thoughts to the entire Harmel family & look forward to sharing some great days together.
Helene Tonnemacher
February 15, 2026
I´m so deeply sorry for your loss. She was such a loving and kind soul, and her warmth touched everyone around her. As a neighbor, she was truly wonderful - always welcoming, generous, and so thoughtful. Her hospitality made people feel at home the moment they walked through her door. She will be remembered for the love she shared so freely and the kindness she showed every day. Sending you comfort and heartfelt sympathy during this difficult time.
Love, Erich, Helene, Nathan, Nick, Jenna and John Tonnemacher
Showing 1 - 6 of 6 results
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Funeral services provided by:
Dudley-Hoffman Mort, Crematory & Memory Gardens1003 E Stowell Rd P.O. Box 248, Santa Maria, CA 93454
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