Joyce E (Mawby) Doty

Joyce Eileen (Mawby) Doty, age 89

Joyce went home to be with her Lord on July 4, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.          

She is proceeded in death by her husband of 48 years, Ray Doty; her parents, Harold Melbourne Mawby, and Winona Marjorie Mawby; and her sister, Carolyn M Mawby.

She is survived by her brother, Harold (Nancy) Mawby. Her three children:  Bob (Melissa) Doty, Dennis (Connie) Doty, and Roger (Tammy) Doty (all of Belding). Ten Grandchildren:  Jeremiah (Emma) Eerdmans, James (Jessica) Eerdmans, Andrea (Kevin) Lawson-Doty, Kevin (Aubrey) Doty, Erik (Alex) Doty, Justin Holliday, Matthew Holliday, Wade Doty, Alec Doty and Kenda Doty along with several nieces, nephews, and Great Grandchildren.

Joyce was born on April 9, 1933, in Grand Rapids at their family orchard on East Beltline. Her family owned and operated East Beltline Fruit Market, that once stood on the East Beltline by 5 Mile Road.

In 1944, when she was 11 years old, her family moved their love of fruit farming to Palmer Road in Belding.

Joyce graduated from Belding High School in 1951. She moved to Grand Rapids to live with her grandmother, while working for the Boys Scouts. Later, she worked a secretarial job in the Psychology Department at Michigan State University. She was a MSU student for a short time with some of her family and friends close by.

Joyce returned to Belding and worked at Metal Glass Company. It was at this time, that she met her future husband, Ray Doty, at Banner Grange in Orleans, MI. They married on August 17, 1957. The wedding took place at the Belding Methodist Church. They had a wonderful marriage for 48 years until Ray’s passing in 2005. They lived on Palmer Road in Belding, where they owned and operated a dairy farm.

Joyce loved her family life and was loved back in return. During those years, she not only raised her children and helped out on the farm, but also served as the organist for the Belding First Baptist Church for over 40 years; served as Orleans Township Clerk for over 20 years; worked in the offices at Wolverine World Wide; taught piano lessons to children and provided many days of babysitting care to her grandchildren.

Joyce had a love for kids, cats, reading, playing music, travel, square dancing, chocolate, painting, entertaining family and friends, gardening and making memories for her family.

She will be loved and missed by many.

Visitation will be at Johnson-Feuerstein Funeral Home, in Belding, from 6-8pm on Friday, July 8.

There will be a funeral held at First Baptist Church, in Belding, on Saturday, July 9,with Pastor Mike Simmons officiating.  A short visitation will start at 10am, followed by a funeral service at 11am.  There will be a luncheon to follow.

A private, graveside interment service will take place at Orleans Cemetery after the luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Kindred Hospice and the Alzheimer’s Association, https://act.alz.org/donate.  (Envelopes will be available at both the visitation and funeral).

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