Joyce Heatherley

I haven't thought of Joyce in years.
She was a lifeline to me in the 'summer' years of my life, as I was 'wife-ing' and mothering and trying to figure out how I was supposed to do this Christian life.
We were in Guatemala when I was able to find one of her books in church lending library. I discovered that she had divorced and remarried, and I wondered how she had navigated all of this while remaining true to her faith.
Little did I know that my husband would be leaving me within a few years.
Suffice it to say that the spirit of love which permeated her works had penetrated the hard shell of my doctrinal oriented understanding of God.
What a sister. What a friend.

Loved her dearly, Balcony People helped guide me through raising a teenager. She was all joy! Just learning of her passing, and sending hugs to Francis.

I saw her video on her ‘Irregular People” book at my church many years ago, and began crying about halfway through it. The tears didn’t really stop until I had read the book, spent many hours with a wonderful clinical psychologist, and finally put my experiences in writing. I can’t say that was the end of my healing — are we ever really healed before we go to Heaven? — but my life was certainly redirected. I did not have just one irregular person in my life, but three. That’s when I stopped analyzing, and began to wonder if I was the irregular person. I was one of many! I’ve been forever grateful for Ms. Landorf Heatherley and her granting God’s blessings and grace through her wonderful books.

I always admired you. I felt so honored to see you one time. God bless you, Joyce.

Simply put, Joyce Heatherly's book "Irregular People was a godsend." A number of copies have been purchased over the years for family/friends. May God continue to grant Joyce's extended family with the gift of Peace...

Mr. Heatherley, I want to thank you for taking my call many years ago and relaying a message to your wife which resulted in her sending me some CD's and a signed book. It was a special blessing and I was happy to write about it in my blog. You were very kind, and my prayers and condolences are with you today (two years later) as I am sure you are still missing her greatly. Your little sister in the Lord, Donna Fentanes

Joyce was my high school Sunday School teacher when I was 16, in 1965. She and I became friends, and I was often at her house in Pomona, CA; doing yard work, playing board games, laughing. A friend and I took Dick and Joyce to a Barbra Streisand concert at Hollywood Bowl; and I occasionally accompanied her to her speaking-singing dates in S. Cal. She was so important to me! My mom died when I was 14, and Joyce promised her to watch out for me. She took that promise seriously! She even wrote about my mom and me in one of her books. She was so kind, so generous with her time, so witty, so good at popping my balloon of teenage self-importance. We kept in touch for years after, when I was a pastor in Montana. She made my life so much richer that it would have been without her, and I will never forget her kindness, her faith, her glow.

I just learned of the great loss of your beloved Joyce. As I remember the impact she made on me as a young mommy and Pastor's wife, I want to extend my admiration for her life to you. Because of her book, "The Fragrance of Beauty", a whole ministry for women was developed! I am still in active ministry with a ministry called, SHINE. We are located in Lone Tree, CO. I never had the privilege to meet Joyce, but she deeply inspired me. I read most all of her books which shaped so much of my ministry. My husband and I are still in full time ministry in CO. Our website is: www. wolcc.net I am the editor of a Christian ladies magazine, called, SHINE. www.shineblog.org I just want you to know that I am someone far away that has forever been impacted and also thousands of other ladies because of Joyce's life and my forever book, "The Fragrance of Beauty!" With continual sympathy and prayers to all of you.

Dear Landoef & Heatherly families: Now nearly 43 years ago my wife and sister and I attended a Family Life Seminar where Joyce was the featured speaker. After the first day, I was hooked....learned about The Richest Lady in Town, Irregular People, the tragedy of David´s birth and death, and then the moving and heart rending story of Mrs. Miller´s journey with cancer and her death. What really touched me was Joyce was unlike any other Christian speaker or pastor I have ever heard, in that she was so brutally frank and honest, she totally and unflinchingly bared her soul, sharing emotions and experiences that many of us honestly would keep private! She was the most un-fake speaker I have ever heard sharing intimate personal details of her life to help others! After the seminar, we all visited the book table and unbeknownst to each other, my sister and I purchased Mourning Song as we were so moved by the story of Mrs Miller. Little did we know, our own Mother would develop breast cancer, and Joyce´s words came back to us to sustain us through our Mother´s successful battle with the disease. And again when our Father developed cancer and succumbed to the disease, her words of inspired wisdom came back to comfort and sustain us! Her enduring ministry, from the time I heard her speak now so long ago, gives me strength to this day and I think always will!!! You have my deepest sympathy in your loss....she was one of a kind!!!

I´m so sorry to just find out about this tremendous loss. Joyce spoke to our broken-hearted church, Christ Community Church in Tucson, AZ in 1981. We had just lost a young mother of 2 babies to cancer and an 18 year old boy to a car accident at the end of 1980. Her Mourning Song message was just what our hearts needed. I was guiding my niece, who lost her mother last year to Joyce´s Mourning Song book when I noticed we lost Joyce in 2021. She was an exceptional woman of God. I think of her now with my mom, Jeannie Farrington and her best friend Martha Baker (who introduced Joyce to our church so many years ago) in heaven. Blessings and healing and prayer to Joyce´s family and friends. I´m so grateful to have met her.
Sondra Farrington, North Las Vegas, NV

I was thinking of Joyce today and did a Google search. So surprised and saddened to learn that she had passed away last year. I feel like I have lost a good friend...a mother.
She had a significant influence on my life through her many writings. As a pastor’s wife and school teacher, I have dealt with many unusual situations. I bought many copies of Irregular People through the years. I read that book many times and used it to not only help myself cope with difficult people, but to counsel others. I gave away numerous copies. I benefited greatly from Mourning Song, Change Points and Balcony People. All of her books are classics and those 4 in particular remain on my bookshelves.
Joyce will live on through her writings and recordings! What a beautiful lady she was! She rose above the challenges she faced and made a difference in the world and for God’s Kingdom.
Thank you to her family for sharing her with millions of people! Praying for peace and comfort as you will dearly miss her. She is now in her forever Heavenly Home with the Savior she loved and served. Looking forward to meeting her when I arrive there! ~ Bev

I just now discovered this and makes me so sad. She was like my best friend even though I met her just once at a book signing! I survived single parenting through her books and cassettes during the early 80's. I have every one of her books and are special on my shelf. I love you, Joyce and thank you! Bet you are wearing a glorious well-deserved crown!

I initially learned about Joyce many years ago when someone gave me a copy of her lovely cookbook 'Mix Butter with Love', which I loved & still use to this day! She was a guest speaker at a church in Midland, Texas & I wanted to hear her speak, meet her & have her autograph my cookbook! I found her to be a very charming, gracious & lovely lady & I know she was loved & will be missed by many! My sympathy to her family & friends!

Thank you Joyce.

My deepest sympathies to Joyce’s entire family. She was so instrumental in helping me through some of my own battles. I loved her writings and even had her album at one time. She will be deeply missed by multitudes! My love and prayers to all of you.