Helen Joyce O’Brien Utterback
Clayton-Helen Joyce O’Brien Utterback of Clayton passed away at home surrounded by her family on Saturday, Apr. 4, 2015. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be forever loved and missed. Proverbs 31:10 – Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her.
Joyce was born Feb. 17, 1935, to the late Jerry and Helen O’Brien in Hurricane.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Fred O’Brien; sister, Patricia Light; infant granddaughter, Jamie Nicole Stewart; son-in-law, Steve Boone; mother-in-law, Pearl Utterback; and brothers-in-law, Albert Utterback and Bill Campbell.
Joyce was a Christian and a member of Clayton Baptist Church. She worked side by side with her husband on the family farm in Clayton where they raised their five children. Joyce’s devotion to her family was evident in all she said and did.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Perry; children and spouses, Judy Boone of Clayton, Joann Stewart of Scott Depot, Jeff and Melinda Utterback of Alderson, Jamie and Jeannine Utterback of Clayton, Jerri and Charley Gillespie of Lewisburg; surviving grandchildren, Erin Boone Lore, Shelly Boone Rhodes, Amy Stewart, Kerri Stewart Devine, Andrew Utterback, Aaron Utterback, Craig Housby, Rebekah Utterback, Heath Utterback, and Alex Gillespie; great-grandchildren, Audrey Lore, Brody, Rylee and Farrah Rhodes, Emily, Grace, Claire, Joel, and Lydia Devine, Coleton and Gannon Utterhack, Slayton Utterback; surviving siblings and spouses, Kay and Robert Ratcliff of Barboursville and Mike and Patty O’Brien of Jeffersonville, IN; and brother-in-law, Harold Utterback of Charleston.
Joyce chose to be a part of the Human Gift Registry through the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg.
A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, Apr. 12, at 2 p.m. at the Underwood Youth Center, State Fairgrounds in Fairlea.
The family would like to publicly thank Debbie O’Bryan, Angie Brammer, Melissa Morgan, Patchilla Carter and Christine Jarrell of Hospice who provided such loving and kind attention to Joyce. Please send any donation of sympathy to Hospice Care, 1265 Maplewood Avenue, Lewisburg, WV 24901 in her honor.
Wallace and Wallace Funeral Home in Lewisburg submitted information. Please send online condolences by visiting www.Wallaceand WallaceFH.com.