Joyce Kay Moulton
PEORIA - It is with great sadness that the family of Joyce Kay Moulton, age 72, announces that she passed away peacefully at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital in Vancouver, Washington, with her loving family at her side on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Joyce was born on June 28, 1951, to Donald Slupianek and Betty Child and graduated from MacLean Waynesville Armington High School in 1969. She attended Eastern Illinois University and later graduated from Bradley University. She was a teacher’s aide at Manual High School and became a teacher and reading specialist upon completion of her degree. She spent many years teaching at Roosevelt Magnet School, where she also led their Peer Mediation program. Later, she became a career counselor at Illinois Community College and continued her positive influence on central Illinois youth.
Joyce married the love of her life, James Robert Moulton, on July 24,1983, in East Peoria. They lived in the Peoria area until their retirement, whereupon they relocated to Vancouver in 2012 to be closer to her grandson and two of her children. She leaves behind her devoted husband, Jim Moulton; her cherished children, Shawn Moulton, Mark Gharst and Liz Gharst; and her beloved grandson, Gabriel Reece. She is also survived by her sisters, Jennifer (Jack) Isaacs and Janet (Gary) Hawkins; and brother, Thomas Slupianek. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother, Ted Slupianek.
Joyce had a passion for education and supporting youth and poured much energy into her profession. Her brilliant light touched many in her life, from the youth she worked with, to her family and friends, to the kindness she showed to the people she met in her everyday life. She knew how to make people feel valued, respected and loved.
Joyce’s greatest joy in life was her children and her grandson. Joyce was indispensable in helping raise her grandson, Gabriel; teaching him to read at 3 years old, caring for him before he was school aged and homeschooling him during the pandemic. Her unwavering and unconditional support allowed her children to make their own marks in the world and her family knows how amazingly lucky they were to have her in their lives.
Joyce loved nature and the outdoors and had many memorable trips to national and state parks with her children and grandson. She loved exploring the Pacific Northwest and seeing mountains and the ocean. She was also a music lover who sang and had a talent for the piano. She was a brilliant, sweet, loving, generous and caring woman. She will be deeply and forever missed.
A private celebration of life was held in Vancouver, Washington, on Saturday, March 30. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you visit Dream Center Peoria (www.dreamcenterpeoria.org/give) and support their Backpack Peoria program to provide school supplies to local children.