SAYER, Joyce

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ Wednesday, September 28, 2011 Joyce Peirce Bird Sayer died Sept. 4 at her home in Wickenburg, Ariz., of natural causes due to age. She was born Oct. 14, 1926 in Springville, Utah, to Junius M. Peirce and Ann Jane Ballantyne. Joyce was raised in Springville, Utah, where she graduated from high school and was art city queen. She had a beautiful voice and loved to sing and played the piano beautifully. She also lived in Mapleton, Utah; Fullerton, Calif.; and Brigham City, Utah. She has five surviving children - Norman F. (Sheila) Bird of Genola, Utah; Kathy (Jim) Romelli of Goodyear, Ariz.; Richard P. Bird of Puyallup, Wash.; Brent K. Bird of Phoenix, Ariz.; and Lisa (Conley) Wilkes of Wickenburg, Ariz. Joyce has 12 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Joyce was preceded in death by daughter Carolyn Jane Bird, her first husband Fred Finch Bird, her second husband D. Ray Sayer, brothers Gordon and Robert Peirce, sisters Nettie Williams, Evelyn Fry, Margret Dean, and Naomi McKenzie. The family held a graveside service Sept. 13 at the Springville Evergreen Cemetery. Following graveside services there was a remembrance service and luncheon at the Mapleton City Park.