Joyce Rosemary Covey Westlake

Joyce Rosemary Covey Westlake passed away peacefully at the age of 95 with her family at her bedside in Monroe, Georgia on June 1, 2023.

Born September 25, 1927, in Kansas City, Missouri, Joyce was the daughter of Harold Franklin Covey and Marjorie Rose Kingery Covey. She graduated from Central High School in Kansas City with her sweetheart, James (Jim) Roger Westlake. They married on May 14, 1946, in Los Angeles, where Jim was stationed in the Navy. From there, they were stationed in Tacoma, Washington. Joyce worked in the cherry orchards until Jim was discharged at the end of WWII.

In 1948, Joyce and Jim moved from Missouri to Columbus, Georgia to join his parents in an independent insurance business. They welcomed their first child, Joyce Ann, in 1949 before moving to Decatur, Georgia, where Beverly Jean and James Roger Jr. were born in 1951 and 1953. Son Richard Christopher completed the family in 1961.

Joyce and Jim were lifelong members of the Presbyterian Church and, when Joyce passed, she was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Covington, Georgia. She was active in the Women of the Church activities and loved singing in the choir. She worked for years as office manager for the Presbyterian Evangelistic Fellowship (PEF) in Decatur. Her dearest friends were those in her church circles.

Joyce was also active in the Georgia Republican Party while Jim served in the Georgia State Legislature. They attended several presidential inaugurations, many Georgia gubernatorial inaugurations, and the Republican National Conventions in 1968 and 1972, where Jim served as a delegate. Joyce served as First Lady of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in 1989 and was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Joyce was beloved for her devotion and tireless attention to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was hard-working, forgiving, and selfless. Her disposition was always happy and contented, resilient, and optimistic. Joyce made her home a warm and loving place.

Joyce is survived by her sister, Jane Urso, of Moorpark, California; her four children: Joyce Ann (Fred) Morgan of Bishop, Georgia, Beverly Jeanne Simpson of Conyers, Georgia, James Roger (Linda) Westlake, Jr. of Newnan, Georgia and Richard Christopher (Laura) Westlake of Columbus, GA; her nine grandchildren: John Ransom (Ashely) Morgan, Jefferson Daniel (Amy) Morgan, Alan Richmond (Kate) Morgan, Charles Russell (Wendy) Simpson, Jennifer Rebecca (Paulo) Idrobo, Jason Roger (Kristi) Westlake, Michael Aubrey Westlake, Steven James Westlake, and Ryan Christopher Westlake; and  by seventeen great-grandchildren: Morgan, Ethan, Reagan, Elissa, Wesley, Gwyn, Josie, Tori, Elizabeth, Britton, Will, Jack, Henry, Aubrey, Grace, Ava, and James.

Her consolation and ours rests on God’s promise that death cannot separate us from His love in Christ Jesus, who is our Redeemer and has prepared an eternal home for His children in Heaven, where they will see his glory.

A memorial service for Joyce will be held Saturday, July 8 at 11:00 am at the Smyrna Presbyterian Church, 2920 GA Hwy 212, Conyers, GA 30094. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Smyrna Presbyterian Church Community Food Bank.

Lord and Stephens, East, Athens is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com