COOKE, Joyce Augusta

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Saturday, August 11, 2012 Joyce Augusta Cooke was called home to her Heavenly Father at the age of 71 on Aug. 5, 2012, while at home in Prescott, Ariz. She passed from the rapidly progressive complications of rheumatoid arthritis. She was born on June 23, 1941, in Tucson, Ariz. Joyce graduated from the University of California - Irvine. Joyce dedicated 25 years of her life loving and caring for adults with developmental disabilities. She retired as Program Coordinator for the Hozhoni Foundation/Prescott in 2010. Joyce was an active member of AA for 46 years and was dedicated to assisting alcoholics in their sobriety. Joyce shared her rigorous honesty with many in recovery. Her personal journey touched the lives of many alcoholics. She had a unique way of saying "if she could stay sober, then anyone could, one day at a time." Joyce was the perfect example of accepting the things you cannot change. Joyce's legacy would be to share a good story with others in laughter and love. She had a long time dream to visit Alaska. Her dream came true with a two-week cruise/visit to Alaska in 2009. She enjoyed the trip in 'Cooke' style, riding a raft 13 miles down the Kenai River. Family was so important to Joyce. While in a nursing home, she even tried, in vain, to attend her brother's 80th birthday party. She always felt she was a disappointment to the women in the family because she did not have a calling to stay in the house to cook and clean. She much preferred to be in the fields on a tractor with her brother. Joyce was preceded in death by her father, Thomas W. Cooke; her mother, Opal J. (Wheeler) Cooke; and her sister, Phyllis Jones. She is survived by her best friend and partner in crime, Maggie Gulledge; sister Doris Engler of Payson, Ariz.; and brothers Tommy Cooke (Mickey) and Joe Cooke (Bonnie), all of Bowie, Ariz. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends too numerous to count who loved her and will miss her, as well as all of her furr kids. Joyce's life will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, at the Heights Church, 2121 Larry Caldwell Drive in Prescott. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Hozhoni Foundation, Inc., 2133 N. Walgreen St., Flagstaff, AZ 86004. Please visit www.hamptonfuneralhome.com to visit and sign the guestbook. Information provided by survivors.