Joyce Marie Wise

January 15, 1931-June 8, 2025 (age 94)

Joyce Marie Wise, daughter of George and Ruby Richardson, passed away peacefully at the age of 94 surrounded by her loving family. Joyce was known by everyone for her beautiful smile, infectious laughter, and her love of life and family. She touched everyone who knew her.

Joyce is survived by her loving children: Cindy Hamilton, John Osborn, Patti Travioli , (Jim Travioli), and her step-children Diana Lynn (Atwood Lynn), Bill Wise, and Sheila Keiser (Scott Keiser): her loving grandchildren Jonathan, Chris, Toni, Michelle, and Michael; step grandchildren Laura, Emily, Haley, Shelby, Stephanie,  and Ashley;  and her great-grandchildren, Clara, TJ,  Lilah, and Lucy, and step great-grandchildren, Becca, Brady, Bennett, Brady, Bryson, Noah, Hudson, Lilah and Myles.  Joyce also leaves behind her brothers, Chuck Richardson, Ken Richardson, and her sister Donna Rutherford. Joyce is preceded in death by her beloved husband Ernest Lesley Wise, her sister Peggy Karr and brother Bob Richardson.

Joyce was born in Pontiac Michigan and lived her extraordinary life in the surrounding area before moving to Holly.  After her retirement from Pontiac Motors in the mid 80’s, she spent the winters in Arizona or Florida until moving to Traverse City in 2019 as a year round resident. She will always be remembered for her strength, generosity and need to care for others. She showed her love by cooking large meals and baking, mostly cookies and her favorite, cherry pie.  You could always find ice-cream in her freezer, and all of the ingredients to make strawberry daiquiris.  She had a competitiveness when it came to playing her favorite games, Euchre, Cribbage, Dominos and Yahtzee. She was a gardener who loved every little detail a flower had and enjoyed weeding, keeping everything very tidy, and took a lot of pride in the lawn which was always impeccable and golf course like.  She learned quilting and soon everyone in her family were gifted multiple quilts throughout the years.  She always felt the need to keep everyone warm. 

A celebration of Joyce’s life and the return of her borrowed stardust to the universe will be held on August 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Coats Funeral Home in Waterford, MI with visiting hours beginning at 10:00 AM. 

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