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Joyce was born August 20, 1928 in Stanford, Montana, to Alfred and Ora Glea Baker. When she was four months old, with her parents and nine siblings, she moved to Porthill, where she attended school at the Lindbergh School. She attended Boundary County Schools and graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1946.
She married Edwin Gross on August 6, 1947, in Newport, Washington. She and Edwin had five daughters. Edwin worked construction here and in several different western states, but after the girls started school, they returned to and lived the rest of their lives in Bonners Ferry.
Joyce was active in the American Cancer Society for 25 years, was a 4-H and Brownie Scout Leader; she attended sports activities for grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was very vocal and enjoyed attending those games even when using her walker.
She was particularly avid at crocheting and embroidering, gardening and water aerobics. She loved attending grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s birthday parties and babysitting for several generations of children.
She crocheted ponchos, embroidered blankets and made patchwork quilts for grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a mother and “grandma” to many children outside her own family. We are all so blessed to have had her in our lives; she filled our home with loving kindness and laughter.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Edwin Gross, grandsons Dean Owens and Jeremy Witt and granddaughter Michelle Owens.
She is survived by daughters Edwina Owens, Candice Gross- Smith, Sharlene Krohmer (Roy), Connie Smith (Earl), and Penny Fairchild, 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.
“Grandma” Joyce Gross will be missed by all her family and friends.