Joyce Lucore

J oyce Elaine Skipton Lucore

Joyce Lucore, loving mom, grandma, and great grandma died peacefully from leukemia at St. Mary’s on Aug. 24, 2016.  She was born on a farm, at home, to Ethel and John Skipton on Oct. 31, 1928 in Elizabeth, Colorado.  She was the fourth of five children.  She lost her mother at age 3, and was raised partly by her grandparents.  She told many stories of how good they were to her, and the wisdom she gained from her Grandma Dunker.  She spent weekends at home with her Pop and her older sisters and brother.  She attended both Elizabeth and Kiowa schools.

In 1946 she graduated as valedictorian from Elizabeth High School, and then completed Barnes Business School.  She was a bookkeeper for several different companies during the years prior to moving to Grand Junction.

In 1948 she married her high school sweetheart, Wilbur Lucore.  They farmed and ranched in the Elizabeth area until 1957.  They raised four daughters, Judy Fehringer (Ken), Beth Sherry (Greg), Margie Elliott (Mark), and Ethel Goebel (Russ).  They lost an infant son, Allan Boyd in 1958.  The family moved to the Denver area in 1957.  Wilbur was employed by The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, and Joyce worked as a bookkeeper for a lumber yard, and later a brokerage firm.

Joyce was foremost a mother and homemaker.  Her windows were always clean, there was never a dirty dish left in the sink and her laundry was kept up.  Even when money was tight, there was enough for piano lessons and educational enrichment for the girls.  The girls were able to attend college and graduate without student loan debt because that was a priority for both Wilbur and Joyce.

The family moved to Grand Junction in 1972 because Wilbur was promoted to management for the railroad.  Joyce hung up the bookkeeping ledgers she was doing at that time, and enjoyed the lovely home they had on the Redlands.  They joined First Christian Church and she learned how to bowl in a league.  She was very active at First Christian, and was group leader and president of CWF.  She served on the diaconate for many years.  She spent hours in the kitchen of the church, cooking for funeral dinners, potlucks and fundraisers for the women’s groups.  She washed and tore lettuce for the Homeward Bound dinner every month for over 125 people.  Each leaf of lettuce was looked over carefully.  She never was sloppy about anything.

She delighted in the funny things the grandchildren and great grandchildren said, and was a dependable caregiver for them when asked.  She loved the big family Christmas that was held at her house every year.  Last year when Wilbur was sick was the first time she missed cooking a huge turkey dinner for all the family in more than forty years.

Joyce was a diehard Rockies fan. She loved the personal stories of all the players, and was loyal to them even during their disappointing seasons.  She opened the sports page first.

When the girls were growing up, there was a family road trip vacation every year. And after his retirement, she and Wilbur traveled the world together.  They especially enjoyed the group travel they did with their friends from the church, and their October travels every year with her cousin and husband.  She also went on a few giggle-filled “girl trips” with her daughters and to faith renewals with her church friends.  At those times, it was apparent that this introverted, proper lady knew how to have fun.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Ethel Jeanne and Rex Hoffman, her four daughters and sons-in-law, and ten grandchildren: Rachel Bina (Spencer), Erin Cornelius (Chad), Sarah Russell (Chris), Allison Sherry (Matt Inzeo) and John Sherry.  Also, Andrew Elliott (Tamara), Tyler Elliott (Jen), Emma Elliott (Griffin Gladson), Alex Tipping and Audrey Tipping.  She is also survived by 11 great grandchildren.

Life wasn’t the same for her after the death of Wilbur 8 months ago. She stoically put one foot in front of another and carried on.  She even took a couple of little trips and felt fairly good.  The family is blessed beyond measure for having this wonderful lady in their lives.  They rejoice she is with those she loved who went before her and in heaven with them all.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, P. O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014, or to The First Christian Church, 1326 North First Street, Grand Junction, CO  81501.