Joyce Joan Rose

Joyce Joan Rose was born on May 8, 1938, in Mendota, Missouri, to Elna and Melvin Thomas. When Joyce was 14 years old, she and her family moved from Missouri to Yakima, Washington, where she would make her home and build a life filled with family, love, adventure, and many wonderful memories.

Joyce was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, companion, and friend. She was a kind and loving woman with a gentle and independent spirit. Joyce was a Godly woman, and that was evident when you were around her. When you were with Joyce, you felt her warmth. You felt welcomed, seen, and heard. She had a way of making the people around her feel comfortable, valued, and loved.

Joyce worked as a bookkeeper, and she had no idea that accepting a bookkeeping position at Nob Hill Auto Wrecking would change the course of her life. There she worked alongside the owner, Sam Rose, who would become the love of her life.

Joyce and Sam were truly a perfect pair. They shared a passion for beautiful cars and NASCAR racing. Together, they traveled near and far to car shows and races. They had many good times traveling to Florida for the Daytona 500. Their shared passion for cars and racing gave them countless opportunities to travel, explore, and make wonderful memories together.

Joyce’s clever business sense was evident when Sam returned home from an out-of-town trip to discover that Joyce had added a used car lot to Nob Hill Auto Wrecking. Joyce was smart and saw the money-making potential in selling cars from the yard. Sam was pleased with her idea and the two soon enjoyed attending car auctions together.

Joyce also had a creative side. She loved decorating cakes and even took a cake-decorating class. She became very good at it and took great pleasure in creating beautiful cakes. Her creativity was seen throughout her home. When you walked through her door, you could see the beautiful floral arrangements Joyce had made herself. She had a wonderful eye for decorating and took pride in making her home warm, beautiful, and welcoming.

Above all else, family was everything to Joyce. Every year, she looked forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas, when she could gather with the people she loved most. When Joyce and Sam came together, she was blessed with four bonus children—David, Dennis, Kristy, and Kim. Joyce loved all of Sam’s children as her own, but shared an especially close and meaningful relationship with David. Joyce and David worked side by side at the wrecking yard for many years, building a bond rooted in love, respect, and countless memories. That special relationship remained strong throughout Joyce’s life and was a treasured part of her heart.

Joyce also had a very special companion who unexpectedly entered her life. Joyce was never known to be an animal lover, but that changed one Saturday morning about 15 years ago when she and Sam stopped at a yard sale. The woman holding the sale was also selling two puppies. Joyce and Sam fell in love with the little black-and-white puppy and named her Misty.

Misty became a beloved and loyal companion to both Joyce and Sam. After Sam passed away in 2020, Misty became especially important to Joyce. She remained faithfully by Joyce’s side, bringing her companionship, comfort, and unconditional love during the years that followed.

Joyce and her sister Cinda Blankenship lived next door to one another. They were so much more than sisters; they were best friends and did everything together. After a brief illness, Joyce passed away at home in the arms of Cinda on Aug 15, 2026.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Elna and Melvin Thomas, and step-father Lloyd Mathes; the love of her life, Sam Rose; her beloved son Steven Rose; her sister Anna Netherda, daughter Kristy Turner, her nephew Brent Netherda; and her grandson David Rose Jr. She is survived by countless family members and friends whose lives she touched throughout her 88 years.

Joyce will be remembered for her kind and giving spirit, her sharp business mind, her appreciation for beautiful cars and racing, and most of all, her devotion to her family and friends. The memories she created with those she loved will remain a lasting part of their lives.

Rest peacefully, Joyce. You were deeply loved, and you will never be forgotten.