Joyce Standley

Joyce Halliday Standley was born July 27, 1936 to George Edmund Halliday and Jennie Walker Halliday in Murray, Utah. Her mother, father and three older brothers (Vance, Walker, and Robert) welcomed her into their loving family.

When she was just five months old, her father left his earthly life. Despite this loss, she always knew she had a beloved place with her brothers and mother. As Joyce’s mother went back to teaching to provide for her family she was cared for by her maternal grandmother Sarah Walker who lived nearby.

Joyce had an adventurous spirit. As a young woman she went rafting on the Colorado River and did a college semester abroad in Mexico. She loved both making and sharing music. Singing was a joy to her and she sang in a quartet while in college. She knew and vigorously sang the alto part to every hymn and participated in her ward choir. Her family Thanksgiving sing-a-longs are legendary!

Joyce knew from a young age that she wanted to work with children. After earning her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Utah, she taught elementary school, and did her best work with kindergarteners. Anyone who sat in her class felt her warmth and enthusiasm for learning with the heart of a fun and happy teacher. She had a talent for writing roadshows and plays. For her students she wrote her own adaptation of the Nutcracker that is still performed today at McMillian Elementary school where she spent her teaching career touching many hundreds of lives.

In her home life, Joyce had many hobbies - she loved games, cake decorating and reading, was a blue ribbon winner from the Salt Lake County Fair for her homemade rolls, ceramics, sewing and wonderful sweet confections. She grew prize-winning flowers and never lost interest in seeing a beautiful garden. She loved bringing everyone together for family dinners and sharing her favorite warm bread. She was happiest when spending time with her family.

She met her lifelong love at church - a recently returned missionary named Newel Standley. They were sealed together on December 19th, 1960 in the Salt Lake Temple. They enjoyed a lifelong love affair and were fiercely devoted to one another. Together they served a Church Education mission to Scotland as well as an inner city education mission.

On October 22nd, 2026 Joyce returned home to her loving husband, parents and brothers who had gone before her. She is survived by her children: Laura Bakker, Anne Standley, John Standley, James Standley and their much loved families. She will be remembered for the wink of her eye, hearty laugh, her smile, and the warmth she brought with her everywhere.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, October 29, 2026 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home located 4780 South State Street, Murray, Utah

Funeral services will take place on October 30, 2026 at 11:00 am at the Belview Ward located at 6410 South 725 East, Murray, Utah, with a view prior to services from 10:00-10:45 am.

Interment will be at Murray City Cemetery 5490 South Vine Street, Murray, Utah.

Her family is deeply grateful to the staff of Ashford Memory Care for the kindness and care they gave Joyce in her final years.