Joyce Wilcox Perkins Smith

Joyce Wilcox Perkins Smith, 91, returned to her heavenly home on August 25, 2025. She was born on February 2, 1934 to Marion Orin and Naomi Alder Wilcox Perkins at Montpelier, Idaho. She joined a family of five sisters and three brothers. Another sister, Maurine, joined the family on November 10, 1938. Joyce was born a dancer. She learned to dance by standing on her daddy’s toes. She was her Grandfather’s favorite because she could dance Turkey in the Straw with him when she was three years old.

She attended elementary school at Lincoln Elementary in Montpelier for two years and finished her elementary years at the Jefferson Elementary in Preston when the family moved there. She attended Junior High and High School at Preston High. During these years she danced and sang in high school musicals. She was the drum majorette and a cheerleader.

She married her high school sweetheart, Robert Olson Smith (Bob) on March 20, 1950 in Pocatello, ID. This marriage was later solemnized in the Logan Temple. They fixed up an old home on Bob’s family farm in Riverdale north of Preston, ID. They had two sons, Robert Phillip Smith and Claude Perkins Smith. Joyce continued sharing her talent and love for dancing for many years. She taught many young people almost every genre of dance, including tap, ballet, ball room, line, and clogging. She choreographed many high school musicals and Gold and Green Ball floor shows. She and Bob served as dance directors at both the ward and stake level and took several groups to the dance festivals in Salt Lake.

Like many farmers’ wives, Joyce had several town jobs. She worked at Arctic Circle, OP Skaggs, Palmer Motor, Modern Equipment and First Security Bank. After Bob passed away on July 18, 1986, Joyce continued to support the farm and herself by working at Saddleman and ICON until she met and married another dance partner, Douglas Andrew Smith on April 18, 1992 in Ogden, Utah. Joyce then moved to Doug’s home in Roy UT. Doug was a Square Dance Caller and Doug and Joyce enjoyed dancing together. They were also members of the Good Sam’s Club and went on many road trips with them. Doug and Joyce served together in the Ogden, Utah Temple.

Joyce enjoyed attending many of her children’s, grandchildren’s and great grand children’s activities and performances although none of them were avid dancers. Joyce served in many other callings as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints besides being a dance director including primary teacher, young woman’s Leader and compassionate service leader.

Joyce began suffering with Alzheimer’s in 2016 and moved to Heritage Senior Living in March of 2021 following the celebration of Doug’s 100th birthday on February 21, 2021. Her family wishes to thank the staff at Heritage and Symbii Home Health and Hospice for their care of Joyce as her health continued to deteriorate.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings and their wives other than Maurine Wold and her husband Neil, both of her husbands and her son, Claude. She is survived by her son, Phillip and his wife Helen and four grandchildren; Robert Burke Smith (Alicia), James Weston Smith (Brandi), Charity Ann Hunt (Jeff) and Lark Elaine Anderson, (Jon), 15 great grandchildren, 5 spouses of great grandchildren and 8 great, great grandchildren. She is also survived by Doug’s Sons Larry Smith (Marian) and Don Smith (Kathleen) and their children and grandchildren.

Funeral services for Joyce will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 12 pm at Webb Funeral Home, 1005 S 8 E, Preston, ID. Viewings will be held on Tuesday from 6-8 pm and again prior to the service Wednesday from 10:30-11:30 am at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Riverdale Idaho Hill Crest Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at webbmortuary.com

Services will be streamed live and can be viewed Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 12 pm MDST by clicking on the following link: