Joyce Oldroyd

Joyce Bailey Oldroyd, age 87, passed away on March 4, 2026, in Provo, Utah. Born in Nephi, Utah to Ivan and Oleta Bailey, she grew up on a farm in Fountain Green, Utah. There she learned the value of hard work and developed her talent as a pianist. Her parents made a two-hour round trip each week to Provo for her lessons. Even as a child, she was so accomplished that she often used practice time to read, placing a book in front of her sheet music until her mother would call out, “Play another number!”

Despite a childhood bout with polio, Joyce took dance lessons at Moroni High School and later became a Cougarette at Brigham Young University. She studied Business Education and English, where she met her future husband, Vic. He first saw her in the bookstore and knew she was the one he would marry. After returning from his mission, he was relieved to find her still single. They were married on April 28, 1961, in the Manti Temple and graduated together from BYU that same year.

Joyce taught for forty years, earning numerous honors including the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, the Governor’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Jon and Karen Huntsman Award. She spent thirty of those years as English Department Chair at Timpview High School. Known for her creativity and care, she repurposed and redecorated classrooms, advocated tirelessly for students and colleagues, and became a trusted friend and mentor to many. She volunteered countless hours as Sterling Scholar liaison, helping students create impressive portfolios and bringing out the best in them. Her dedication extended far beyond the classroom, touching lives through quiet acts of generosity and service.

A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Joyce served in many callings, particularly in Relief Society, where her events were always memorable. She and Vic worked side by side organizing dinners, firesides, and funerals. She also spent years quietly serving the widows in her ward, delivering lunches and her signature Rice Krispie treats. Joyce is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years, William Victor Oldroyd Jr., her siblings James Bailey and Linda Beck, her four children—Dee (Jill), Scott (Kristine), Bill (Laurie), and Ann Cloward (Steve)—16 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren, with more on the way. She was preceded in death by her brother Merrill Bailey and two great-grandchildren, Hyrum and Clara Mace.