Joan Horrocks

1931 - 2024

Joan Rosalia Hovey Horrocks

1931 - 2024

- The "up" voice. Unless you knew Joan, you've probably never heard of it. But using the "up" voice was Mom's signature style for tackling anything in life. She once said "Happiness can be a choice. I choose to be happy." And because her voice always sounded "up", you knew that lightness flowed into everything she did. A cheerful, positive attitude, despite life's setbacks and disappointments, was how she made her mark.

Mom's grand entrance into this world was on Aug. 7, 1931 in Ogden, UT to Lester Dana Hovey & Rosalia Matilda Madsen. Her trademark golden curls & sparkling eyes were an early outward testament to her bright light. She was a helpful little girl who loved caring for Stan, her little brother whom she adored. From an early age, family meant everything to Joan, and she often regaled us with stories of her cherished relationships with her wonderful parents, and an amazing gaggle of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Joan lived in the boundaries of East High School but thought East High students were too snooty, so she borrowed her Aunt Lucille's address in the South High district of Salt Lake City and ended up a South High Cub. Mom's parents were richly blessed with musical talents, so early in high school she sang in Dr. Shand's school choir and fell ever more in love with choral music, developing musical gifts all her own.

Because of World War II, Mom graduated early from high school at age 17 and enrolled at the University of Utah. There she lent her alto voice and her amazing gift of sight-reading music to Dr. Lund's Chaminade Chorus, and she participated in Alpha Phi sorority and Lambda Delta Sigma, feeding her inner song bird with performances in an Alpha Phi quartet that won awards at the school's music festival. She worked for the Salt Lake County Attorney's office downtown in the Salt Lake City and County Building, then later, for the Utah Water & Power Board. With these career opportunities, she grew to love the legal profession. She would later serve for over 25 years as the Executive Assistant for Robert Merrill, the Vice President at VanCott, Bagley, Cornwall, and McCarthy, one of the largest law firms in Utah. Bob was not only a wonderful boss but a friend to our family, and Mom enjoyed her years at the firm.

Not long after her first days at the U, a handsome, returned sailor from the Navy wanted to know who the lovely blonde playing the piano in Sunday School was. Dad acted quick, and the two were introduced and began dating. Mom was never seen on the U of U campus without her 8" x 10" glossy of her favorite Navy man in her binder. After a wonderful courtship filled with dancing to big bands at Lagoon and Saltair, shwanky sorority dinners, and lots of Alpine skiing, Gary and Joan were sealed in the Salt Lake LDS temple on May 17, 1951. From their earliest days, Mom used the word "joyful" to describe their blessed marriage.

Always a firm believer in education, Mom nudged Dad to pursue a degree in engineering (something he loved), and this girl who hadn't left Utah but once put her own schooling on the back burner and suddenly found herself in downtown Chicago with him. Their three years in Chicago were an adventure of the best kind. While Dad attended school, Mom worked for Lutkin, Van Hook, & Paschen in Chicago's Loop district. Though finances were meager, they lived humbly, saving pennies for experiences instead of things, and Mom continued this practice throughout her life, her wanderlust ever growing.

Following Dad's graduation, they bounced around a bit between Salt Lake and San Jose, CA. As they began planning to have a family, Dad's trepidation grew, mostly due to his being an only child. But that fear was quickly laid to rest when Karen was born - Dad melted into his new role as father with Mom's always loving encouragement. One by one, each new child came, and Mom referred to us all as "her pearls". In-laws and grandchildren, and eventually great-grandchildren, were gradually added to the mix, and Mom was at her happiest engaging in family traditions she created or vacations she orchestrated.

Our favorite memories of Joan always include her coveted chocolate chip cookies; her beloved family's annual reunion at Snowbird; her caffeinated Diet Coke she referred to as "the hard stuff"; her total class, yet wonderful approachability; the fact that she was often found humming; her firm arm squeezes when you were in trouble; her penchant for live theater; her love of quietly winning at Progressive Rummy; the way she was always ready to talk through the difficult things and give you some honest truths; her 2-second phone calls; her ability to make any gathering into a party; her response to any hesitancy about funding a delightful get-together was often "just swipe the card"; her description of things she loved always including the adjective "marvelous"; her love of Jazz – both the music kind and the NBA kind; her never wanting to go to sleep because visiting was much more fun; her love of the Utah Symphony and Ballet West; her much beloved Cookie Day; her ever-ready desire to have her family members sing together; her winning the family Halloween Screaming Contest at the event's 50th anniversary just a few months ago; her love of art; her belief that a good hug was simply "pushing the love in"; her ability to welcome, love, and accept every one regardless of their beliefs, choices, or status; her value and encouragement of higher education; her texted emojis when other great-grandmas didn't know how to use an iPhone; and her life-long favorite scripture, Proverbs 3: 5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths."

Mom was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but she didn't just follow "the church", she followed her Savior Jesus Christ. She never turned down an opportunity to serve others and was often found asking "what can I give you?" or "how can I help?" She served in many church callings including ward Relief Society (RS) President, RS pianist and chorister, Stake Music Chairman, Stake RS Board, ward Young Women President, ward chorister and choir director, RS instructor, Primary Stake Board, LDS Conference Center hostess and tour guide, and temple worker in the Jordan River Temple.

But what she loved very most was serving those in need of a caring heart, a warm hug (you know, to push that love in), a hot plate of her cookies, her time listening to help heal a hurting soul, or any other of 1,001 ways that people needed her.

A day didn't go by when she didn't miss her Gary and was so looking forward to being with him again. We're sure they're dancing and singing together on the other side! We love you Mom - thanks for the best ride ever!

Mom is survived by her children Karen (Jared) Nelson, Steve (Julie) Horrocks, James (Tiffany) Horrocks, David Horrocks, and Jill Horrocks; her grandchildren Stephanie (Keith) Call, Adam (Lacy) Nelson, Michael (Meghan) Nelson, Melanie (Travis) Ostmann, Haley (John) Forsyth, Robert (Melanie) Horrocks, Jon (Lexie) Horrocks, Whitney (Jaden) Mackay, Amaena Horrocks, Benton Horrocks; her great-grandchildren Carter Call, Lauren Call, Ian Call, Colston Nelson, Brixton Nelson, Cambrie Nelson, Max Nelson, Tate Nelson, Isabelle Ostmann, Truly Ostmann, Landon Forsyth, Grace Forsyth, Ethan Forsyth, Jacob Forsyth, Ryan Forsyth, Ava Forsyth, Caitlyn Forsyth, Isaac Forsyth, Jordan Forsyth, Nova Forsyth, Liam Horrocks and Ellie Horrocks; brother Stanton (Elsabeth) Hovey, nieces Sarah Brewer, Jane (Blaine) McCauley, Irene (John) Dayley, Richard (Karen) Hovey, Dan Hovey, and beloved friends Sue Crookston, Gay Rosevear, and Susan Wilson.

She was preceded in death by her beloved Gary, her parents Les and Rose, and many other family and friends.

We wish to extend our deepest gratitude to all those doctors, nurses, med techs, CNAs, hair stylists, front desk team, and all the others at Legacy House of South Jordan & Inspiration Hospice for the marvelous loving care you gave our Mom. She loved you all so deeply, and our family will miss our association with all of you.

A viewing will be held Friday evening, January 12, 2024, from 6:00 – 8:00 at Jenkins-Soffe Mortuary, 1007 W South Jordan Parkway in South Jordan, UT. Funeral Services will be Saturday morning, January 13, 2024, at 11:00 with a viewing just prior from 10:00 until 10:45 at the LDS River Ridge 1st Ward, 10124 South 1300 West in South Jordan. Interment will be Monday morning, January 15, 2024 at 10:00 at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S Highland Dr. in Millcreek, UT. Online condolences may be shared at www.jenkins-soffe.com.