Her children arise and call her blessed.

Proverbs 31:28 NIV

By Laurel Ellis

May 6^th, 2025

Remembering my mom

As we celebrate Mother's Day this month, I want to honor two women who have profoundly impacted my life. I am especially sentimental right now because my mom, Joyce Devin, stepped into heaven just two months ago on March 10th at the age of 96. So much can be said about this remarkable woman whom I had the privilege to call "Mom". Click here to read her obituary.

Mom, from the time you were a little girl, you allowed God to guide your life, your decisions filtered by His call.

Even to the extreme of sailing across the Pacific to marry a man you dated for just a few months while in Bible School.

Even to the extreme of staying the course for 43 years, serving faithfully as a missionary in Indonesia through countless highs and lows.

Your love for the people of Indonesia, the culture, the sights and sounds, is an inspiration to me.

Your Godly example spurs me on.

Your love for your family, your prayers for all of us abide still.

Your last letter to your family summarizes it well, “I have had a wonderful and adventuresome life. As I look back over these almost 96 years, I can see God's faithfulness throughout.”

You are now home. God showed you your path of life… a life which influenced so many.

Now you are experiencing fullness of joy in His presence and eternal pleasures at His right hand.

Until we meet again….bersama selamanya.

Morris and Joyce in 1953 shortly after their marriage on Valentines Day.

Morris, Joyce, Ralph, Rosie, Laurel and Mona at Oregon Camp Meeting 1966

Morris and Joyce often sang duets, primarily composed by her cousin Oren Munger

Joyce was influential in training Sunday School teachers and leaders, fulfilling the vision God gave her at 11 years of age.

Joyce loved her visits to Seattle to be with the grandkids.

Devin, Daniel and David pictured with their grandparents, Oma and Opa, on Easter 1994.

Three generations, Joyce, Devin and Anson. Just missing me.

Joyce with Harper, David and Jenny's daughter.

Remembering my other mom

Although my mother-in-law, Sharen Ellis, has been in heaven for almost five years, I can't let this opportunity pass me by to share a little bit about her life and her influence on me. My first months in Latin America as a missionary were spent with Sharen and Dick in Mendoza, Argentina. Sharen fir into the culture and language to the point that she often wasn't even aware when she was speaking in English or Spanish. God called her to be a missionary when she was a teenager and although she loved her family fiercely, she loved Jesus more, and willingly left loved ones behind to serve faithfully alongside her husband in Argentina, Paraguay and Panama for 36 years.