Joyce M. Scott

We are sad to announce the passing of Joyce Margaret (née Adkins) Garvin Scott, on Sunday, February 9, 2025, in her 95^th year.

Joyce was born on April 4, 1930, in Toronto to Lawrence Charles Elijah Adkins and Margaret Elizabeth Adkins (née Vanderburgh).  She is pre-deceased by two loving husbands, Victor George Garvin and Earl Howard Scott, her parents, and younger brother Lawrence James (Jim) Elton Adkins.  She is also predeceased by her son John David Garvin, and her niece Kimberly Joy Adkins Motz Johnston.

She will be dearly missed by her children, Steven Garvin (Cheryl), Richard Garvin (Donna), Robert Garvin (Kerry), Barbara Tobin (Brian) and Diane Thompson (Steven).  She will be sadly missed by her younger sister, Mary Lou (Adkins) Upper, and her 12 grandchildren; Wylie, Stephanie (Matt), Courtney (Connor), Graeme (Marie), James (Felisha), John, Andrew, Trevor (Heather), Jeffrey, Michael, Julia and Bradley.  She spoke about her grandchildren often in her final years, and always had a soft spot for Wylie (her first).  She was the proud great-grandmother to Lia and to six darling boys, Finley, James, Addison, Stephen, Maxen, and Calum.  She was the caring aunt of Dr. John Adkins (Rhonda) and Emily Upper (Jamie).

Joyce was a lively and creative child and student in Toronto, engaging in many activities and clubs.  Her happy years at Leaside High School stayed with her throughout her lifetime.  She was a good writer, a good singer and a good dancer. She was clever, graceful and attractive, and one or two young lads had a twinkle in their eye for her.

Joyce and Vic were married in 1953 and were blessed with twin boys in 1954, and a third son in 1955.  Almost instantly, she was a young mother with three baby boys, setting the course for the next few decades.  Her fondest stories all include those three boys, Stevie, Ricky and Bobby, and their hijinks.  She had wonderful memories of those early years, where she settled in to being a good wife and mother to the boys, and later the girls, in her early married years in Cobourg and Sarnia, Ontario.  It was important to her that all her children went to Sunday School regularly, did well at school, and participated in activities like Boy Scouts and Girl Guides.  Her family were members of Toronto’s Boulevard Club for years, and she was there many times a week taking herself or one of her kids to badminton, tennis, swimming, curling or weekend dances. And of course, there was bridge.

Joyce was a creative soul.  Whether painting or poetry, ceramics or singing, Joyce had an artist’s heart.  She had her own home ceramic studio for almost 50 years, and taught many friends and family members to create lovely pieces of ceramic pottery.  Many of us now have beautiful ceramic nativity sets to enjoy each December. In later years, she threw herself into painting; her art work adorns the walls of her family’s homes and her Barrieview suite. Her unique “sunflower paintings” combined her ceramic sunflowers with her oil paintings.  She was very proud of her published poetry.

And she was musical.  She thought it important that her children play an instrument, and she was fond of the piano.  She had a piano in her house for decades, and loved to have everyone singing Christmas carols, gathered around.  She and Earl even purchased a player piano at one point, so they could sing full volume (and dance) to their favourite old hits without even having to sit and play.

Tennis was her number one sport throughout her life, and she was a member of countless women’s or mixed doubles leagues over her lifetime, in Toronto and Clearwater, Florida.  She also loved swimming, and horses, introducing her girls to the world of horses when we lived in Vancouver.

Joyce loved playing cards, particularly bridge, and was very good at it (she has a certificate for her ‘world ranking’ for bridge for tournament competition).  She and Vic were a team to be reckoned with.  She hosted many ladies’ bridge leagues; Barb and Diane remember the flurry of excitement when “mom’s ladies” were coming over for an afternoon.  She took her card games VERY seriously; heaven forbid you might shuffle or deal in some unorthodox way.  She would set you straight!  She loved puzzles, and would complete the daily crosswords in pen.  And those newspapers! In Toronto, Joyce and Vic had the Globe and Mail delivered in the morning, and the Toronto Daily Star in the evening.  She encouraged each of her sons to hold a paper route.  The newspaper was a ritual in her household.  She held on to her love of reading the daily Toronto newspaper even in her final years.

Joyce and Vic bought a condo in Clearwater, Florida in the late 1970s, where they were surrounded by Canadian and American friends.  She had fun each winter on the tennis court, playing bridge, and dancing at the club.  She loved the ‘early-bird-special’ life, and became quite an expert on the local deals for seafood dinners.

She was a complex woman and she also liked the simple things in life.  She loved her coffee – she and Vic would make a pot of coffee (to accompany those newspapers!) and sit and enjoy.  She knew a lot about gardening and plants.  She always had indoor house plants which thrived, and she really enjoyed going out on a summer evening and watering her gardens.  Joyce loved dishes, and had several sets of china (“good dishes”) and every day dishes on the go.  She loved to go to the William Ashley sales – it was almost a sport for her!  She knew a LOT about silverware, china and dishes!  (And her girls polished a lot of silverware back in the day 😊).  Joyce was frugal (as many of her generation were, as in ‘save the tin foil’ frugal) but liked to splurge on some nice things.  She was the queen of coupons, and finding a deal was like winning a prize.

In later years, she enjoyed bridge, music and other adventures in Gravenhurst, Ontario.  She was an active member of the Pineridge Community in Gravenhurst where she lived happily with Earl for 17 years.  She spent her final years in Barrie, close to her daughter Barbara.  We would like to thank all the staff at The Barrieview and at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre who cared for Joyce and shared her life in her final years.

She will be missed.

Cremation has taken place.  A private memorial for family will be held in the coming days.

If desired, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The War Amps, in memory of Joyce (Garvin) Scott, at www.waramps.ca/ways-to-give/in-memoriam  or at 1 800 250‑3030.  

In Memoriam Donation – The War Amps
A donation in memory of a family member or friend is a meaningful way to express sympathy. Please be assured that your donation will help The War Amps maintain its broad range of programs and services that benefit amputees and their families across the country. You will receive an official receipt for income tax purposes. The War Amps will send the bereaved family a special "In Memoriam" card acknowledging your donation. 

Peaceful Transition Simcoe