- Date Of Birth: November 30, 1937
- Date Of Death: September 23, 2021
- State: Colorado
Joyce Ruth Gates Latham passed away peacefully on September 23, 2021 near her longtime home in Littleton, Colorado as the result of a stroke she suffered in 2019, she was 83.
Joyce was born at the San Diego Naval Hospital in 1937, and was raised during her early years in Santa Paula, California by her mother Gertrude, her great grandparents and her great aunts. Gertrude remarried to James Austin and the family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Over the years Joyce gained three siblings: Diane, Randy and James (Gig). Joyce went to high school in Albuquerque then off to the University of Colorado in Boulder to study education. After a year in Boulder, she returned to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico. She joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority and met Robert (Bud) Gates at a Sigma Chi social event that must have involved dancing, which she loved. They married in 1957 and moved to Redondo Beach, California where Bud started his career in the aerospace industry. Joyce became a mother in 1958 when Bob was born, and in 1960 she had her second child, John. In 1963, the young family moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey where she gave birth to her third son, Mark, in 1964. Joyce thoroughly enjoyed being a mother and raising her boys.
In 1971, they moved to Littleton, Colorado as Bud took a position with Martin Marietta. Littleton would be home for the rest of her life. Joyce continued her education on and off as an adult, graduating from the University of Colorado with a BA in education. Joyce went on to work as an elementary teacher, specializing in reading and literature.
In 1981, Joyce remarried Albert (Bud) Latham. They spent many happy years traveling to many destinations: London, Paris, Rome, Greece, the Caribbean, and the Panama Canal. They spent many peaceful summers at their remote cabin in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming and warm winters in Grand Cayman and Palm Desert, California. They had two dogs over the years: Sissy and Mitzy that gave them both great companionship.
Education was very important to Joyce. She administered the Mulford Scholarship Fund which was founded by Bud Lathams late sister, Willa. The fund provided higher education scholarships for many deserving young people. She also volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Denver, the Denver Convention Center and helped raise funds for the Children’s Hospital of Denver.
Joyce faced several battles with cancer and won each time. She was beyond resilient and took on each challenge saying, ‘Bring it on, I want to get back to adventures!’.
Bud Latham passed away in 2011 and Joyce spent her remaining years closer to home with friends, family and keeping up with her grandkids. Joyce enjoyed her life immensely and always made the most of every day. She was a ‘drive with the top down’ kind of girl. Her biggest joys were her family, her many social events, dancing, music, theater, Broadway plays, big screen movies, traveling, and plenty of laughter. She will be dearly missed. J
oyce is survived by her children: Bob and Carol Gates of Sheridan, WY, John Gates of Littleton, CO, Mark and Diana Gates of Littleton, CO and her grandchildren; Baylee Gates of New York, NY, Cara Gates of Anywhere, USA, Austin Gates of Austin, TX, Rachael Gates of Littleton, CO, and Alannah Gates and Sklyer Gates of Littleton, CO.
