Joyce Oldroyd

Joyce Bailey Oldroyd, age 87, passed away on March 4, 2026, in Provo, Utah. Born in Nephi, Utah to Ivan and Oleta Bailey, mom grew up in Fountain Green, Utah on a beautiful farm. She learned hard work in that setting and to be a budding pianist. Her parents made a two hour round trip every week to Provo to provide her with lessons. She became so skilled that she often used practice time to engage in her preferred hobby: reading. Mom would place a book in front of the sheet music and play a memorized song until Oleta eventually called out, "Play another number!"

Despite a bout with childhood polio, Mom took dance lessons at Moroni High School and eventually became a Cougarette at Brigham Young University. She studied Business Education and English and met her sweetheart Vic there. He saw her one day in the bookstore and "knew she was the one he'd marry". Vic was surprised and relieved to find her still single when he returned from his mission. They married on April 28, 1961, in the Manti temple. They both graduated together from BYU that same year.

Mom received many awards during her 40 years of teaching, including the White House Commission on Presidential Scholar, the Governor's Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Jon and Karen Huntsman Award. She spent 30 of those years as the English Department Chair at Timpview High School, marking her books with copious amounts of sticky notes and matching her outfits to her lessons, like a trendy black sweater embroidered with a red A whenever she taught the Scarlet Letter.

Mom was much more than a teacher, though.

The principal recognized her flair for function and decor and frequently called on her to repurpose, redecorate, and reimagine classroom spaces. More than that, though, she was the consummate advocate, the eminent negotiator, the consistent ally and a once-in-a-lifetime friend. One year, a divorced mother of nine children worried that her frumpy appearance would influence the outcome of an upcoming custody hearing. Mom arranged a makeover for her with her own beautician, then brought her home and into her own closet, telling her "take anything you want." The woman who later went to court no longer resembled that once disheveled mother.

Mom also volunteered countless hours as the Sterling Scholar liaison, pressing every ounce of each students' talents into impressive portfolios. She enlisted help across the whole school to make her Sterling Scholars shine, and Timpview did well in those years. Once, another school district even requested her help with their program. Before enlisting her, they had only one regional winner, but after mom mentored their program, they had six first place winners and four runner-up students.

When she wasn't giving her full-time and leisure hours to school projects, mom loved to shop. We have it on good authority that she single-handedly brought Nordstroms to the University Mall (so she wouldn't have to drive to Salt Lake City). She treated every grandchild to an annual birthday shopping spree and lunch date, and was a beloved visitor at her favorite boutiques.

Mom held many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving often in Relief Society. Whether she served as a counselor or an activity coordinator, attendees knew that her events would be top-notch. She organized funerals, flea markets, high-end dinners, and firesides, with Vic always at her side to haul bins or help make food. Aside from her official callings, mom loved serving the widows of her ward. For years, she delivered lunches, including her trademark Rice Krispie treats.

It might also be referred to as a calling, but she cajoled each son over the finishing line of getting the Eagle Scout award. Something she loved and has highlighted in her copy of "Words By Heart", Papa says "something always comes to fill the empty places. Something comes to take the place of what you lose." We love you mom.

Joyce is survived by her siblings James Bailey and Linda Beck, her husband of almost 65 years, William Victor Oldroyd Jr, and their four children: Dee (Jill), Scott (Kristine), Bill (Laurie) and Ann Cloward (Steve). Together, they share 16 beloved grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren and a few on the way. Mom is preceded in death by her younger brother Merrill Bailey and two of her great-grandchildren, Hyrum and Clara Mace.

A visitation will be held Friday, March 13th from 6:00-8:00 pm at Nelson Mortuary, 4780 N University Ave, Provo. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 14th at 11:00 AM at the chapel at 3050 Mohave Ln, Provo, with a visitation held prior to that from 10:00-10:45 am.