Joyce L Reed, 99, of Hamilton, passed away at home surrounded by her family on Thursday, November 30, 2023, just 12 days shy of her 100th birthday. Born in Peshastin, Washington, she grew up in Tulelake, California.

She is predeceased by her parents, Ira and Rosa Ott; her husband, George Vernon; her daughter, Phyllis Reed; sons-in-law, Stewart Good and Jerry Apoldite; three brothers and their wives, Maurice and Lois Ott, Thurlo and Anne Ott, Ira Jr. and Leta Ott; and one sister and her husband, Janice and Ted Rupert.

She is survived by her children, Verna Good of West Amwell, Eileen Reed (Michael Smith) of Hohenwald, TN, Thomas Reed (Stacy) of Hohenwald, TN, and Ellen Apoldite of Hamilton and sixteen grandchildren and twenty-nine great grandchildren. She leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews and special friends.

The family resided in Hamilton for 76 years. Joyce never worked outside of their home but kept busy raising their five children, cooking, canning garden produce, sewing, and keeping house. As the children grew, she found time to do volunteer activities for several organizations: Meals on Wheels, Hospice, Habitat for Humanity, and as a member of the Friends of the Library. In 2004 she was one of ten people in the surrounding communities to receive the Jefferson Award for volunteerism. She was an active member of the Crosswicks United Methodist Church and over many years she held several offices in the church, Sunday School, and the United Methodist Women. She and Vernon helped out for many years in their church wherever needed. When Vern retired in 1983, they enrolled in Mercer County Community College and took several courses of interest to them. After ten years and with only four more courses to earn a degree, she realized that she'd have to quit all her volunteer activities to complete the work required for each of them. Feeling that volunteering to help others was more important at this stage of her life, she cut short her college career and never looked back in regret. For the past several years, she has spent many enjoyable days reading, sewing, baking, playing games, and just living a long and fulfilling life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joyce's name to Crosswicks United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 303, Crosswicks, NJ 08515.

A celebration of Joyce's life will be held 11am on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Crosswicks United Methodist Church, 535 Ward Ave
Crosswicks, NJ 08515.  Arrangements under the direction of Peppler Funeral Home, Allentown.