GRANVILLE: Joyce H. Jones, 90, of Granville passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Thursday, November 26, 2020.
Born in Westfield on September 11, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Ralph H. and Avola (Banks) Hiers. She graduated from Westfield High School and then Penn Hall junior college in Chambersburg, PA with a major in physical education.
In 1951, Joyce married John Jones and they resided in Granville enjoying 62 wonderful years together before his passing in 2013. She loved raising their family in Granville and helped found the original kindergarten (held in the basement of the library) and the Granville Scholarship fund. As a certified Red Cross swim instructor, Joyce taught swimming lessons at the lake for many years. In the 1960’s, Joyce and John built Family Hill ski area and introduced downhill skiing to a whole new generation of local children. As soon as her children were school age, she went back to work at the Noble and Cooley Drum factory full time and didn’t retire until her late 70’s. Joyce was a 30+ year member of the Tuesday Morning Club in Westfield, hosting many fall events at her home as well as researching and presenting many interesting programs for the club. Joyce was an avid tennis player and played year round until bad knees forced her to the sidelines. Her favorite player of all time is Roger Federer and she often stayed up all night to watch him play live from the Far East or Europe. Her other sports passion was UCONN women’s basketball and she never missed watching a game…or the pre-game show with her hero, Geno Auriemma.
She leaves behind four children, Elizabeth Smith and her husband Smitty of Naples, FL, Jonathan Jones and his wife Carol of Granville, Virginia Chenoweth and her husband Cap of Stowe, VT and Matthew Jones and his wife Elizabeth of Granville; three grandchildren, Jon Jones and his wife Cynthia, Nicholas Jones and his wife Valerie and Kelsey Chenoweth; two great-grandsons, Jack and Will; and two step-granddaughters, Stacy Smith and Kimberly Smith Ryan. She was predeceased by her sister, Priscilla Hiers Buy.
Lauded as a special, friendly, upbeat generous lady with a quick wit and sly sense of humor, Joyce will be sorely missed by family and friends. Events at the NCCHP museum will not be the same without the matriarch of the family greeting visitors and members at the door. She was very proud to be the great-great-granddaughter of James P. Cooley and enjoyed researching and sharing the family history with others.
A celebration of Joyce’s life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in Joyce’s memory to the Noble & Cooley Center For Historic Preservation (NCCHP Museum), 42 Water St., Granville, MA 01034. Southwick Forastiere Family Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Please visit www.forastiere.com to leave a personal condolence.
