Joan Marie Lloyd

Joan Marie Lloyd passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, at the age of 88 after a brief stay at Hillside Health Care Center in Missoula. This brought to a close the life of a gentle and loving person who was always ready to share a smile, a laugh, a word of encouragement, or a Spanish or Irish tune.

She was born in Dillon on April 23, 1925, the third of three children raised by John and Proxieda Carroll. Her early years were spent in the Big Hole and Bitterroot valleys.

In 1948, she married Ray Pulver, and the couple had three children of their own. As he was employed by the Forest Service, the family lived in several Montana venues, and Joan primarily served as a substitute teacher until Ray's death in 1964. After that, she began teaching fulltime in the Superior public school system. Following her marriage to George Lloyd in 1968, she began teaching in the Missoula school system, primarily high school English and Spanish at Hellgate, then Big Sky. In retirement, she was involved with the Missoula Senior Citizens Center, where she was in charge of organizing the monthly birthday parties. She sang with the Mellowaires for many years.

Along with her husband George, surviving Joan is her sister Margaret Moxley of Arizona (her brother Paul died in 2004). Children and stepdaughters include Carol (Keith) Krueger of Aberdeen, Wash., Laurie (Mike) Lamb of Blairmore, Alberta, Canada, Tom (Jan) Pulver of Deming, Wash. (plus granddaughters, Lauren of Boston and Taylor of Bellingham, Wash.), Debby (Gary) Grossman of Florence (plus granddaughter Amber Grossman and great-granddaughter Lily of Boston and grandson Aaron Grossman of Lake Havasu, Ariz., plus great-grandchildren Riley and Ty and Kim Lloyd of Helena).

A prayer service for Joan is scheduled at St. Anthony Parish, 217 Tremont in Missoula on Saturday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. in the afternoon, reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be sent to the Western Montana Retired Teachers Scholarship Fund, 413 W. Artemos, Missoula, MT 59803

Read Joan Lloyd's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.