Jan. 13, 1921 - Mar. 1, 2012
Joyce Ann Patterson Vossler left this world after a lengthy illness, on March 1, 2012, at the age of 91, to go sit at the feet of her Saviour. Her family and friends surrounded her with love, encouragement, and warmth during her illness, giving her a strong resolve to stay with us as long as she could.
Joyce was born in Sitka, Kansas, to James Preston “Pat" and Ida Patterson. They moved west in 1927,settling in the Bardsdale community, where she and her sister Velma attended the Bardsdale School. One year after settling in, she witnessed the St. Francis Dam disaster, and they were stranded on the southern side of the Santa Clara
River for many days.
During her Sophomore year at Fillmore High School in 1936, she started taking art Lessons from Lawrence Hinckley, a well known local artist, and it became one of her Lifelong pleasures. She Graduated high school in 1939, and attended Ventura J C for two years. It was during this time that Joyce and her future husband were introduced.
After a wartime romance and marriage, newlyweds W.L. "Dub" and Joyce Patterson Vossler moved to Long Beach for a short time, where she helped the WWII effort as a Riveter for Douglas Aircraft. When Dub was inducted in 1943, she moved back to Fillmore.
Sometime in the 1950's.she entered a local bake contest, winning first prize for her banana nut cake with white mountain icing, and the title of Mrs. Fillmore. This then led to entry at the Ventura County Fair, where she competed with other "Mrs." contestants from other cities in the county, and was a blue ribbon winner again with that delicious cake.
A ful1time wife and mother for many years, Joyce eventually went to work for Dr. Donald Musgrave as his office nurse for 14 years. She helped Dub build their first house, while raising 3 children. Joyce was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fillmore, and taught Sunday School for many years. She often told the scriptures to her Church children thru colorful chalk drawings. She loved to camp in the Sierras with fami1y and friends, and was known to be a pretty good fisherman, usually catching the first and the longest fish. She most loved spending time at the Rincon beach campsites with her grandchildren, picking up seashel1s,exploring the tide pools, or just listening to the trains go by.
When her husband retired in 1979, they moved to Sheridan, Montana, where they built their retirement home. They spent an idyllic 23 years there, making lifelong friends.
Joyce always insisted that they "come home" to Fillmore for Christmas, to be with family. They moved back to Fillmore for good in 2004. This past July 2011, marked 70 years of marriage to Dub, which was celebrated with family and friends.
Survivors include her husband W.L."Dub" Vossler; daughters and sons-in-law Linda and Jerry Crockett, and Nancy and Raymond Cervantez., all ofFi1lmore; son and daughter-in-law Robert and Sherry Vossler of Lowell, Oregon; granddaughters Jennifer Crockett of Oklahoma City, Ok, and Teresa Blankenship of Sonora, Ca; grandsons Kelly Brown of Ojai, and Casey (Anne) Brown of Tulare, Ca, great grandchildren Rachel Chavez, Brittany, Taylor, and Kelsie Brown, and Jillian and Brennan Brown, and great great grandson Devin Willeford; and many nieces and nephews.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Preston and Ida Patterson, her sister, Velma Patterson Mayhew, grandson Michael Vossler, great-grandson Joshua Chavez, and great-great granddaughter Desiree Jordan Willeford.
The family wishes to thank the Fillmore Convalescent Center staff, caregivers and friends for the compassionate care and love shown to Joyce during her residence there.
We also gratefully thank Pastor Leslie Lanier for his devotion and daily presence in our lives.
Visitation will be held at Skillin-Carroll Fillmore Mortuary, 600 Central Ave, on Mon, March 5, 2012 from 4-8 pm. Gravesides services will be held March 6, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Bardsda1e Cemetery