Joyce Ann Oldham

Wasilla resident Joyce Ann Oldham, 58, died Dec. 28, 2011, after a long battle with Lou Gehrig's disease.

Funeral services in honor of Joyce are at 11 a.m., Jan. 2, 2011, at First Baptist Church, 900 Leatherleaf Loop, Wasilla. A public viewing is at 10 a.m. Pastor Stephen Shrimplin will officiate. Joyce will be buried at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery.

Joyce was born March 6, 1953, in Yakima, Wash., to Robert and Sarah (James) Hart. She attended Green River Community College after graduating from high school. Joyce enjoyed gold panning, metal detecting, fishing, hunting and Western movies. She retired from Boeing in 2000 and moved to Alaska in April 2010 to be closer to her family.

"Joyce was a loving mother, grandmother and a devout Christian. Joyce will be greatly missed," the family wrote.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Bernard Dale Oldham and mother, Sarah Maurine Hart.

Surviving are her father, Robert E. Lee Hart of Orting, Wash.; sister, Veta Howard of Federal Way, Wash.; sister, Denise Hart of Federal Way; brother, Monte Hart of Des Moines, Wash.; son, Charles Dale Oldham and wife Melinda Kay of Palmer; son, Ordie Lee Oldham and wife Ashley Anne of Fort Greely; son, Emmett Wayne Oldham of Wasilla; granddaughters, Taylor Ann Oldham and Katlyn Faith Oldham of Palmer; grandson, Christian Dale Oldham of Palmer; grandsons, Matthew Walter Oldham and Samuel James Oldham of Fort Greely; and grandsons, Keaton McCoy Oldham and Landon Elijah Oldham of Wasilla.

Memorial donations in memory of Joyce may be made to Gideon Bible Donation at gideons.org.

The family was cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory.