BLOOMINGDALE — Joyce W. Morency, 77, of Bloomingdale, passed away peacefully on Dec. 3, 2012 at the home of her daughter with her family by her side.
She was born March 9, 1935 in Saranac Lake, the daughter of Gerald and Nathalie (Longtemps) Woodruff. She married Joseph Leo Morency on June 26, 1954 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Bloomingdale.
She graduated from Saranac Lake high school in 1952. Following graduation she started her professional career by working for various businesses in the Saranac Lake area. Following the death of her father in 1970, she and her husband took over ownership and operation of Woodruff's Lumber in Bloomingdale.
She began her political career in 1978 when she was elected Councilwoman for the Town of St. Armand. Four years later she successfully ran for Supervisor for the Town of St. Armand becoming the first woman to serve on the Essex County Board of Supervisors. During her tenure with the County she chaired most of the County's committees at some point. She was the County Budget Liaison Officer for six years and was appointed the board's first woman chair in 1994 and 1995.
Joyce always swore she was born waving an American flag in one hand, and an elephant rattle in the other. In 1999 she was elected Essex County Republican Chairperson. During election season she felt her vehicle carried over five million pounds of political signs. There was no job Joyce would not do during a campaign whether she was working telephone banks, stuffing envelopes, or running food sales.
Joyce's accomplishments also included; Charter member of the Bloomingdale Fire Department Auxiliary, Chairperson NCCC Education Committee, member of the Adirondack Airport Committee and member of the Camp Adirondack Advisory Board. In recent years she was instrumental in the completion of the town's water project including the building of a new water tower. One of her most significant accomplishment was the long awaited activation of the Verizon cell phone tower in Bloomingdale.
She is survived by two daughters, Lisa and her husband Dan Davis of Potsdam, Beth Ann and her husband Steven Schaefer of Uvalde, Texas; grandchildren, Serenity Davis of Potsdam, Jason Davis and his wife Nicole of Cadyville, and Sierra Schaefer of Uvalde, Texas; great-grandchildren, Olivia and Marissa Davis of Cadyville; and the following nieces and nephews, Linda Gallo of Lake Placid, Nancy Curran of St. Petersburg, Fla., Kim Hunt of Minot, N.D., Shelly Heil of Saranac Lake, Norma Woodruff of Saranac Lake, Karen Conners of Pa., Bonnie Guidas of Pa., and Nancy Dickenson of N.J., Kevin Woodruff of Vermontville, Victor Woodruff of Bloomingdale, Paul Woodruff of Saranac Lake, Gary Woodruff of Bloomingdale and Timothy Woodruff of Bloomingdale and their families.
She was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Leo; and two brothers, Gerald Woodruff and Lance Woodruff.
Calling hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday Dec. 5, 2012 at the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday Dec. 6, 2012 at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Saranac Lake. Burial will take place at the Brookside Cemetery in St. Armand following the funeral service. A reception will follow at the Bloomingdale Fire House. Contributions can be made to the Bloomingdale Volunteer Fire Department in care of the funeral home. Family and friends are invited to light a candle, leave a memory and prayer for the family to cherish at www.fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.
