It is with much sadness we announce the death of our wonderful Mum and grandma, Joyce Watson, who went to be with the Lord on 8th March 2024.
Joyce was born to proud parents, Sam and Emily Hartshorn, in April 1930 and lived with them on the Isle of Dogs until she was evacuated from London in 1940 and went to live with her three cousins in Derbyshire. After the war, Joyce returned to live with her parents and started work at age 14. She met her future husband, George, when she was sixteen and after George had finished his National Service, they were married in December 1950. They went on to have three sons, Stewart, Richard and Philip, firstly living in Bushey, Herts and then moving to the Isle of Wight in 1967 to run a hotel in Shanklin. Stewart and his wife, Sue, are still living on the Island and have just celebrated their 50th Wedding Annivsary. Richard and his wife Debbie, have two sons, Andrew and Steven and live in West Sussex.
In 2009, Joyce became a Widow and moved over to Bishopstoke and lived next door to her youngest son, Phil and his wife Bronnie and their children, Jeremy, Annabelle and George.
During her retirement, Joyce spent many enjoyable holidays with her family in Spain and especillay enjoyed her trip to the USA in 2019, when she attended the wedding of her eldest grandson, Andrew, to his wife Anna. Then Joyce became a great grandmother when Talia was born in 2021.
Joyce will always be fondly remembered for her warmth, humility and kindness that she showed to both her family and friends and now is reunited with her beloved husband George.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants" Psalm 116:15