Joyce Kay Hiatt

Joyce K. Hiatt December 7, 1932 - March 22, 2024 Born in Sedan, Kansas in 1932 to parents Emarae and Edith Parman, Joyce embodied that states motto "Ad astra per aspera" meaning "to the stars through difficulties". This daughter of the sunflower state was shaped by the Great Depression and her kindness, generosity, and frugality manifested itself in her do-it-yourself attitude. She made clothes for herself and her family, cooked from scratch, fixed things that needed fixing, and spent hours and days on home projects while becoming an artisan of many disciplines. Her family trekked to Central California in 1944, part of that great movement of people, and settled in Strathmore, California where she was a cheerleader at Strathmore High School and graduated in 1950. A natural athlete, she played women's softball for the Lindsay Queens, she was known to roam center field barefoot for home and away games around the Central Valley. During her time with the Queens she met and fell in love with her assistant coach and future husband Wayne Hiatt. The couple married in 1953 at Lindsay Christian Church. Wayne's job would take the young couple to various California locations and during this time they had 2 children, Mark and Jill. The couple attended numerous churches from Newman, California to Bakersfield but most notably North Fresno Christian and Clovis Christian where Joyce was the church secretary and Sunday School teacher extraordinaire. After 44 years of living and loving each other Wayne passed in 1997. This shy, sweet, soft spoken woman made life a joy to those around her and went out of her way to make everyone comfortable. Particularly to children. She was a child magnet, kids naturally gravitated to her and in every public outing be it shopping or out with family Joyce reached out with a kind word, a lovely compliment, or laughing nod to any child that crossed her path. The love she had for family and all the little ones was quite remarkable. She never missed a child's athletic event, play, recital or special occasion. She had an amazing ability to make little ones feel safe, important and mostly loved regardless of if they were family or if they had just met. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband, big brother John, and great grandson Henry. She is survived by her children, her son-in-law Joe, daughter-in-law Carolyn, her sisters Linda and Judi, brother Bobby, her grandchildren Molly, Garrett, John, and Isaac and 10 great grandchildren who were the light of her life in her final years. She would often part ways with the words "Go softly" and that is what she did on March 22nd of 2024. Her celebration of life will be held at Lindsay Christian Church, 11am on August 17th. 120 E Frazier St, Lindsay, California.