Joyce Clark Enslow
September 16, 1929 to August 12, 2023
Joyce was born in Antelope MT to parents Robert J. and Clara M. (Iverson) Clark. The fourth of six children delivered by their maternal grandmother in their home, Joyce remembered her childhood fondly. She shared happy stories of attending a school so small she was the only student in the 5 th grade. Both her paternal and maternal grandparents were Montana homesteaders. They had no indoor plumbing; she walked to school; she learned to swim in the nearby river. There was not much money but she was never hungry. Joyce graduated from Antelope High School in 1947, and then moved to Great Falls MT to take classes at Great Falls Commercial College, and to begin her working life.
In Great Falls Joyce worked at her dream job at GMAC Motors / Rice Transport, and she formed friendships that would last a lifetime. It was during these years that she met and married Gene (Homer Eugene) Enslow on November 25, 1951. Gene was an appliance repairman for Sears Roebuck & Co at the time. They were a happy, busy young couple who enjoyed dancing, pinocle and bowling with friends. During these years they welcomed three daughters: Pamela Jo (1959), Cindy Lynne (1961), and Toni Kathleen (1965).
Determined to provide better for their young family, Joyce and Gene moved to Rexburg, ID in 1968, investing everything they had in the small Shannon Motel on the edge of town. This beautiful setting with the Teton Range out the front picture window and Yellowstone National Park just 100 miles away would be their home for four years, and was the first of many business ventures for the enterprising couple. After nurturing and developing that business, they sold it and moved to Moses Lake, WA in 1973 to own and operate the larger TraveLodge Motel. In 1977 they moved back to their beloved Montana, to Kalispell, where they owned and managed a mobile home park and a triplex rental property. During these years Joyce also worked at the Credit Bureau, retiring from there in 1990. Gene and Joyce spent much of the next several years traveling throughout the western United States with their camper trailer, visiting family and friends.
In 1993 Joyce and Gene moved to Meridian ID to live nearer two of their daughters – Cindy and Toni — which meant they could frequently see and enjoy several grandchildren. They traveled often to Woodinville WA to visit Pam’s family. Gene had a major stroke in 2014, and lived his last five years at Alpine Meadows Assisted Living, just a mile from their house. Gene and Joyce had been married 67 years when he died in 2019. Joyce continued to live independently in their home until January 2023, when she felt ready to move to the same assisted living facility where Gene had lived. She said it felt like home. Joyce’s daughters are so very appreciative of the kind and supportive caregivers at Alpine Meadows A.L. in Meridian, where she lived her final months.
Joyce’s last nine years were filled with family gatherings and time with dear friends. Highlights included seeing grandchildren graduate high school and college, weddings, and the births of two great granddaughters, who brought much joy to Joyce’s last years. She loved visits to New Meadows and McCall with daughters Cindy and Toni, and gatherings with all 3 daughters whenever they could make it happen. (It was tradition that every such occasion was captured in a photo of the four of them, each with a glass of wine in hand!) Her lovely neighbors on Covey Place; her friends from Fit & Fall Prevention class; her many nieces and nephews, and especially her daughters will always hold dear her kind smile and her heart full of love.
Joyce was most proud of her beautiful family and was blessed to have them all together at grandson Craig Bennett’s wedding in June 2023. It was to be her last great hurrah. Nearing her 94 th birthday, her body just became too tired to go on. Joyce is survived by her three daughters Pamela Jo Maloney (Michael) of Woodinville WA, Cindy Enslow Bennett (Paul) of Meridian ID, Toni Enslow Blas (David) of Boise ID; ten grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her husband; by her parents; by all five of her siblings; several nieces and nephews; and most of her lifelong friends. Joyce always said she didn’t want to be last, but even so she didn’t want the joy of life to end. She will live always in our hearts.