Joyce A. Moore

Joyce Ann Moore (nee Mendenhall), peacefully passed away at the age of 85 at home on December 6, 2023.  The family extends their gratefulness to the Western Reserve Hospice Team for their compassion, love and care. Joyce was born on January 17, 1938, in Richmond, Indiana to Paul H. and Julia M. Mendenhall.  She was predeceased by her parents and two younger brothers, John C. Mendenhall and Richard P. Mendenhall.  Joyce grew up in Richmond and graduated from Richmond High School in 1956.  She attended DePauw University, pledging to the AOPi Sorority.  Later she received a secretarial degree from Indiana School of Business.  While at DePauw she met her beloved husband, Larry G. Moore and they celebrated their 64^th wedding anniversary on September 12, 2023.  During their marriage they lived in South Russell Village almost entirely except for the first year.  Joyce loved music and always had a song in her heart which she hummed daily.  In High School she formed a dixie-land band which featured at that time a drummer named Harold Jones, who later became the drummer of Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and lastly Tony Bennett.  Joyce maintained her relationship with Harold all her life which included backstage passes to see him after local performances.  She was an accomplished Cornet player and was well acknowledged with two other trumpeters for their performances of “Buglar’s Holiday”.  Her sight-reading ability for music gave her a strong presence in many choral groups.  Joyce taught trumpet students and was the drill team instructor for the marching band at Chagrin Falls High School when her children were enrolled there.  Joyce loved flowers and gardening and applied her skills of arranging which she learned from her experience at Hill’s Greenhouse in Richmond during her high school years.  She was one of a few women who thoroughly enjoyed housekeeping and always was prepared for any unexpected guest to arrive.  Her love of the smell of fresh mowed grass gave rise to her devoted time on her John Deere tractor.  No one was allowed on her tractor because she would say it was her time to have “Communion with John” where she would practice her Alto part for the choir while mowing the yard.  It was devastating to her when she was told she could no longer ride her John Deere.  Joyce found satisfaction in giving back to her community through her involvement in the Jaycee Wives, the Junior Women’s Club, ushering at the Little Theatre for over 40 years, recently involved in the Chagrin Valley Community Builder’s Award committee, active member of the Golden Rule Chapter #442 Order of the Eastern Star, member of the Federated Church Choir and formerly of the United Methodist Church Choir.  She also contributed to her community by writing articles for the CV Times.  She took pleasure in her time as a taste tester for Nestle Stouffers.  She was spoken of being fastidious in her appearance with makeup and “not one hair out of place”.  As an English major, she delighted in keeping her grandsons in order with their spoken language.   Everyone who knew Joyce had an awareness of her love and devotion to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  That bond was evident as her greatest joy for which they will forever be grateful.  Her presence in any setting gave an awareness of how strong and significant she was.  She personally touched the lives of many as a surrogate mother and a deep void will be felt from those in which she acted in that capacity.  She is survived by her husband Larry of 64 years, her three children (and spouses) Lynn (Darryl) Dutsch, Anne (Gene) Layne, and Brian (Gayle) Moore.  She is survived by 6 grandsons Mark (Josephina) Trajbar, Christopher (soon to be Paige) Trajbar, Brendan (Miranda) Moore, Ian (Megan) Moore, Garrett Layne, and Cameron Layne.  She is also survived by 2 great-grandchildren, Finnegan Daniel Moore, and Charlie Kathleen Moore.

Calling hours at St. John Funeral Home, 16381 Chillicothe Road, Bainbridge Twp., OH 44023, (440) 708-1855, Friday, December 15, 2023 from 4 – 8 p.m.  Celebration of Life at Federated Church, 76 Bell Street, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022, (440) 247-6490, Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

A private family burial will take place at Evergreen Hill Cemetery in Chagrin Falls.

In lieu of flowers her wish was to have contributions made to either the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, 40 River Street, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022, or the Cleveland Botanical Gardens 11030 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 44106.