Joyce Arlene Cockburn

Mrs. Joyce Arlene Cockburn was born September 10, 1941, and went to be with Jesus peacefully in her sleep on April 10, 2024. She was 82 years of age. 

Joyce is survived by her loving husband, Dennis Allen Cockburn, their children, Rhonda Denise Barney (and husband Donnie Barney), Christopher Allen Coburn, and Timothy Patrick Cockburn. Joyce was also the loving grandmother of 7 grandchildren: Michael Joel Navarrete, Nathan Scott Navarrete, Nikolas Andrew Barney, Cody Wyatt Barney, Cameron Patrick Coburn, Chase Riley Coburn, and Ella Jane Coburn. 

Joyce is also survived by her youngest sister, Delphine Rubly of Long Beach California, and is predeceased by her parents Everett James Ferguson and Ada Ruth Ferguson, as well as five other siblings, Wanda Keeling, Dwayne Ferguson, Eugene Ferguson, Herbert Ferguson, and Albert Ferguson. 

Joyce was a graduate of Exeter Union High School class of 1960. She married her husband of 63 years, Dennis Cockburn on October 9, 1960.  

Joyce worked at Jostens Yearbook company, then she worked at the Tulare Co Courthouse in Visalia, and then worked for 30 years at the Dept of Motor Vehicles in Visalia; ending her career as the manager of the Visalia office before she retired. 

Joyce and Dennis were lifelong members of the Church of the Nazarene, attending the Exeter church for many years, and later moving to the Visalia Church of the Nazarene for the remainder of her life.  

Joyce was a devoted Christian who loved her Lord Jesus and committed herself not only in service to the church, but also care taking many ill or elderly family members or others in need. She had a way of quietly showing up for people. And she always followed through to help for as long as they needed her.  

Joyce also loved to sing, and she often sang solo or lead congregational hymns at the Exeter church, and sometimes in Visalia as well.  

She was truly a blessing to everyone around her and will be sorely missed. 

 The viewing will be held from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM on Wednesday, April 17 at Smith Family Chapel, 505 E Pine St, Exeter CA 

Grave side service will be held at 9:00 AM, Thursday April 18 at the Visalia Cemetary, 1300 W Goshen Ave, Visalia CA 

The Memorial Service will follow at 10:30 AM at the Visalia Church of the Nazarene, 3333 W Caldwell Ave, Visalia CA with reception at the church following the Memorial Service.

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