Obituary of Mary Elizabeth Joiner

Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Joiner passed peacefully into the arms of God on November 10, succumbing to kidney failure. Betty was born and raised on Branciforte Drive in Santa Cruz in 1920; Betty's parents, Robert and Susie Young, operated a hatchery, supplying chicks to area chicken ranches. Betty attended Happy Valley School on Branciforte Drive when it was a one-room schoolhouse. A gifted student, Betty completed her elementary education two years ahead of most of her classmates. She attended Mission Hill Junior High and Santa Cruz High School, and went on to study for two years at Los Angeles Pacific College. World War II intervened, and her beloved brother Bob (composer/conductor Robert H. Young), a US Marine at that time at Pearl Harbor, convinced her to move to Hawaii to serve the US Navy as a secretary. Upon Betty's return to the mainland at the end of the war, she followed Bob to Westerville, Ohio, where she worked at Otterbein College in the Admissions Office. While there, she met the love of her life, William (Bill) Joiner, and the two married in Santa Cruz in 1949. After the wedding, Betty and Bill lived in Chicago, Redlands and San Francisco, with Betty working while Bill attended seminary and earned his teaching credential. Betty and Bill and their (by then) 3 children moved to Aptos, where Betty worked for Santa Cruz City Schools as a librarian, and later worked in a similar capacity in Aptos schools. Even later in her working career, Betty was employed as an administrative assistant for the County of Santa Cruz. She and Bill retired in 1986. During the earlier part of Betty's working career, with both Betty and Bill enjoying long summer vacations due to employment in the schools, they and the kids formed many fond memories during wide travels throughout the US in a variety of camping conveyances. Betty and Bill continued to love to travel and, after retiring, toured Alaska, Hawaii, Europe and the British Isles, even visiting the small English town where Bill served during World War II. Betty maintained a lifelong love of learning and was an avid reader. During many of her working years she regularly signed up for an evening academic course at Cabrillo College, always "messing up the grading curve" for the younger students by easily earning her requisite "A". She also loved classical music, and instilled this love in the rest of her family. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crafts, and enjoyed attending her neighborhood Bible study. Betty was a member during the 1960s-1980s at University Baptist Church in Santa Cruz, followed by many years of membership at Saint Philip's Episcopal Church in Scotts Valley. She was devoted to her family, and is survived by her husband of 63 years, William L. Joiner of Aptos, and her 3 children and their spouses: David Joiner (Deb) of Fort Worth, TX, Mark Joiner (Roberta) of Santa Cruz, and Rebecca Prouty (Warren) of Fresno, CA, and her two grandchildren, Nathan and Hailey. She outlived her four siblings: Roberta Demeke, George "Ford" Young, Flo Boline, and Robert Young; all these siblings called Santa Cruz County home during major portions of their lives. Betty will be missed by all who loved her for her calm, humble, gentle nature and her love and acceptance of others from all walks of life. She was an active listener and confidante. During the final several weeks of Betty's life, she appreciated the devotion of her caregiver, Maricela Bonilla-Chavez, her minister, Mary Blessing of Saint Philip's Episcopal Church, and Hospice of Santa Cruz County, in addition to the care and devotion given her by her family. Private Interment will be followed by a public memorial service on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at 2:00 pm at St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Scotts Valley. Donations may be given in Betty's memory to the Salvation Army in lieu of flowers.