Joyce Burkinshaw

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Joyce Bateman Burkinshaw returned to her awaiting family and Father in Heaven September 6, 2015 having recently celebrated the 44th anniversary of her 39th birthday. Joyce and her fraternal twin sister Janyce were born on July 29, 1932 in Midvale Utah, to Alberto Wilbur and Sophie Kunz Bateman. The youngest of the seven Bateman children, she grew up in Midvale raised by their saintly widowed mother. Joyce and her sisters were raised in modest circumstances and became masters at entertaining each other, making up songs with their quick wit often at the expense of her older siblings.  She attended elementary school in Midvale and Jordan High School in Sandy. As a girl, she worked for the Burk Theater where she met her husband to be.

Joyce and Robert Burkinshaw were united in marriage September 22, 1950 in Elko Nevada and later sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.  They established their home in an apartment above the Burk Theater on Main Street in Midvale and later moved to a home nestled amongst what was then farms and fields on 7800 South. There she raised four children. Later in her life than expected and much to their surprise, she gave birth to a fifth, 15 years after the birth of her youngest child.  Joyce loved children and children loved Joyce so it wasn't uncommon that little ones were drawn to her. Joyce was active in her children's PTA and education and received a gold ribbon for a book about the history of contributions of the PTA made to the Midvale Junior High School.  She attended LDS Business College and was always reading something to further her sharp intellect.

Joyce was a wonderful mother, daughter and sister who loved her family dearly. She was an excellent cook and an animal lover.  Joyce was known as one that took an interest in the plight of the disadvantaged and often gave compassionate service to others.  She served in many callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a primary teacher, counselor in the Primary Presidency, Young Women Advisor and a Counselor in the Relief Society Presidency. Joyce was an intelligent, compassionate, beautiful woman who was fiercely loyal and protective of her family and those she loved. Joyce had a sense of humor and class that few could match. She will be sorely missed by all who were blessed by her life and legacy.

She is survived by her brother Duane Bateman and sister Dawn (Earl) Brown; her children Jeffrey R. (Stacey) Burkinshaw of Vitória, Brasil; Mark S. (Wendy) Burkinshaw of Houston, TX; Laurie (Larry) Baker of Pleasant Grove, UT; J. Robyn Burkinshaw of Salt Lake City; daughter-in-law Vicky R. Burkinshaw of Mesa, AZ; 18 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren, and 3 grand doggies.

She was preceded in death by her Father Alberto Wilbur Bateman, her Mother Sophie Olive Kunz Bateman, her husband Robert Beck Burkinshaw, her sisters June Black, Ruth Beck, Loa Uremovich, Janyce Fox, and her son Robert Kim Burkinshaw.

The Burkinshaw family would like to offer our love and most sincere gratitude to the care givers at The Charleston Assisted Living and Envision Hospice.  Mackenzie, Megan, Shelley and too many others to mention loved her and served her in the fashion of guardian angels.  Joyce was blessed for the past 18 months by these incredible people, their compassion and love.

A viewing will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2015 at Goff Mortuary (8090 S. State St.) and at 10:00 a.m. in the Primary Room of the Midvale East Stake Center (240 E 7570 S) on Saturday, September 12, 2015, followed by the funeral at 11:00 a.m. Interment, Midvale City Cemetery.