Joyce Herndon

Joyce was a very special gal with lots of spunk, a generous heart and a great sense of humor. She was born Nov. 5, 1928, in beautiful downtown Burbank in the days of the trolley car, to dad Earl Newton Steele and mom Lillie Frances "Queenie" Carr. She went to be with her Lord and Savior peacefully on June 15, 2002, after a brief illness. She joins husband, Bob, who died on May 19, 1991, as well as her brother, Ed Steele and her mom and dad. Joyce was spirited due to her Irish upbringing, enjoying photography, playing piano and roller skating in her teens and early 20s. In fact, she met husband Bob at the roller rink. She was always an avid cat lover and in later years was well known by her CB "handle" - Cat Lady. She was also a very talented administrative professional, working for many years as an insurance biller as well as in the optical business while living in Burbank. Upon moving to Hesperia in 1981, she began a new career in the local school districts and although retiring after 13 year of service with Hesperia Junior High in December 1995, she continued to pursue and receive her certification to substitute part-time as a special education assistant, working with special needs children as late as January of this year. She was also active in her local church, Church of Christ in Hesperia. Hobbies included craft making and painting of statuary. She was an Egyptian docent for the public library as well as recently posing as Moses for a Lucerne Valley Church program. Most notably, she was one of the famous blue Andorian Star Trek characters appearing with her friends Marcie Mesnard, Bev Potter and Mike Brenner for several years annually in William Shatner's Charity Rodeo Event in Burbank as well as other notable Star Trek conventions. Joyce will be deeply missed by her loving daughter and best buddy, Lorraine Herndon Phillips; her grandson Jeff "Hook 'em Horns" Herndon of Simi Valley; sister-in-law Jeannette Bagenstose and brother-in-law Howard Crafton of Eagle Rock; cousin and fellow Trekkie, Paul Brown of Michigan; cousins Jenny Young and Phoebe Barrett of County Limerick, Ireland; Marcie "dear sis" Mesnard and husband Jim of Lucerne Valley; Bob and Bev "my angel and adopted daughter" Potter of Lucerne Valley; "eldest son" Stan and dear wife and friend Jan Seeberg of Vancouver, Wash.; Mike Brenner of Santa Monica; Randy McCrickard of N.C.; Rosemary and Bob Martinsen of Granada Hills; as well as many other dear friends and cousins she brought so much joy to over the years. Most of all, her kitty companions will miss her fussing and caring attention. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kern Mortuary, 16120 Main St. in Hesperia, with the Rev. Chris Scott of Church of Christ in Hesperia officiating. Please join us to celebrate Joyce's wonderful life. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Visiting Nurses Association Hospice and/or PAL pet rescue. Kern Mortuary is handling arrangements.