Joyce Pettingill

Joyce Davis Pettingill was born January 27, 1950 to Myron Dennis and Reva Davis in Provo, UT. She passed peacefully December 10, 2023 at 1:30am after unexpected post-surgical complications. She was surrounded by her entire family as she passed, surely being received by her parents and many loved ones with open arms into heaven.
Joyce met her future husband, Neil F. Pettingill in Lava Hot Springs at the Wagon Wheel Bar on August 20, 1971, while she was lead singer and played tambourine in a band on stage, and Neil was at the bar with his brother. They were married March 4, 1972 and then sealed in the Salt Lake Temple in April of 1973.
How do you summarize the legacy of Joyce? Having to whittle down the lifelong passions and attributes she had is to be impossible. Joyce was a "Jack of all trades." She was passionate, honest (you never cheat around Joyce!), fair, loving, caring, willing to do anything for you, first to volunteer, never said no, and talented beyond compare.
Joyce learned how to sew by her mother, Reva at age 5 by sewing Barbie and doll clothes. By 7th grade she was sewing her own clothes. At 16 she was designing her own clothes by mixing and matching patterns. She would custom make doll clothes for others, (Barbie and 18" dolls). She made all her daughter's clothes in the early years before they caught on to "retail fashion." She started a sewing business in 1990 making hair scrunchies and headbands and then started Kopy Kat Knits making "Units" turning it into a huge success. She stopped in 2000 to take care of her mother and other family members. She sewed not only doll clothes, but she made her own wedding dress, the mother's dresses, bridesmaid and flower girl's dresses for her own wedding. She has sewn innumerable dance costumes, Halloween costumes, daughters school dance dresses, daughter's wedding dresses and their bridesmaid dresses and grandbabies blessing dresses (all custom from multiple patterns). The last two dresses she made were two school dance dresses for her granddaughter Kate. She would also hem, patch, tuck, customize and fix anything for nearly anyone who asked.
Joyce was also an athlete growing up. She played softball, ran track and enjoyed winning several tennis trophies for both singles and doubles well into her adult years.
She received the Home Economic Sterling Scholar at Skyline High School. She was also the President of the Service Club her senior year.
She was the best cook and baker around. Very versatile in everything and her family would always request her famous Spare Ribs and Rice, along with her Mayonnaise Cake. She was thrilled to make you your favorite dinner for your birthday.
Joyce was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She served in all the callings available; from Relief Society President to Singing time leader in Primary. She loved them all. Her most passionate callings involved Family History. She was called as a service missionary for many years at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. She also served as a missionary at the Riverton Family History Library from 4/9/2015 to 9/9/2017. She had her family ancestry traced down to Adam and Eve and beyond. She also loved helping people in the local stake center that had put in a new Family History Library there.
Joyce had a strong testimony of the power of prayer. She would pray for anything and everything. There was nothing too silly or small to pray for. If something was missing, she simply said a prayer and she would find it within minutes. Sometimes she would even say "It is urgent" in her prayers in needing an immediate answer. We would often call her to say a prayer for us to find something and it worked- every time!
Joyce was a traveling enthusiast. She had Wanderlust and followed it to the ends of the earth. Her favorite places were those that involved the beach. Especially Hawaii- which is where she wants us to spread her ashes. Her last wish was to go body surfing one last time, which she never got to do. She could out body surf anyone. Mom, we'll do it for you when we go.
The greatest joy in her life was her husband, children and grandchildren. She often mentioned the joy she had in her posterity. She also had many close friends that she considered family. She was your biggest fan, cheerleader and confidant. She said her greatest achievement in life was that she had four daughters that played the piano. She made them practice piano every single day, and that they all still play. She always regretted that she never stuck to it, so she made sure her girls did. She would tell us "One day you will thank me that you can play." To which we have all expressed our gratitude to her in our adult lives. She loved to go to movies, play games and was the person with the most FOMO. If there was something happening, she wanted to be a part of it. She was the life of the party. She told Neil a few nights before she went into the hospital that she has No Regrets should something like this happen.
Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, older sister Geraldine Jackson, Granddaughter Lyla Saunders, and Grandson Nick Saunders. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Neil F. Pettingill. Brother Ken (Jill) Davis. Daughters Nicole Pettingill, Mandy (Jason) Nigbur, Heidi (Tim) Saunders and Kelly (Kye) Nordfelt. She also has 10 surviving grandchildren that absolutely adored her.
A Celebration of Life for Joyce will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023 from 11 AM to 2 PM. It will be held at the church building located 7115 S. 3200 W. West Jordan, UT 84084. Please come and celebrate her life and legacy with us.