CONCORD, NH — Joy Taylor Sturdevant passed away January 16, 2021 in Concord, New Hampshire. Joy was born May 26, 1930 in Jamestown, New York to the late Doris (Costello) Taylor and Ralph E Taylor. She was predeceased by her sister Gayle Martin.
Joy grew up in Tarrytown, New York and spent many summers at their family summer home (built by her father) along the East Branch Delaware River in the Western Catskills, Hancock, New York. She attended Syracuse University and graduated from Green Mountain Junior College where she developed her lifelong interest in psychology and the treatment of mental illness. She moved to New York City to work and take in the excitement and lights of Manhattan. There she began her relationship with her future husband Jay Wayne Sturdevant where they shared their love of music and nightlife at jazz clubs in the city. Married on June 28, 1952 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, they started their family in Long Island, New York (“two kids in two years” as Joy would say), and after relocating to Connecticut settled in their home in Ridgefield where they raised their three children.
Joy was a homemaker, active in her church where she developed many friendships, and volunteered throughout her life supporting many organizations including Dartmouth-Hitchcock as a patient representative and the New Hampshire Refugee Program by assisting with teaching English. She was a creative cook, an avid reader, a skilled bridge player and a beach lover, spending many hours relaxing at Great Pond in Ridgefield with her family and friends. She supported Jay’s athletic pursuits, joining him on many ski and marathon trips in New England,
out West, and in Europe. She reentered the workplace, earning her LPN at Henry Abbott Technical School and returned to her interest in mental health as a psychiatric nurse at Four Winds Hospital and Hall-Brooke Hospital, where her maturity, tolerance and compassion made her a respected member of the team. She became a regular walker, and often hiked in Devil’s Den Preserve before working the evening shift at Hall-Brooke (and leaving a fully prepared dinner for Jay to complete with instructions !).
Joy was very involved in the lives of her three children, supporting their varied pursuits. She and Jay took great pride in watching their son David play drums in various bands throughout the area and beyond. She was proud of her daughters’ education and careers, attended every graduation, and was always available for advice and guidance, without judgement or interference, but with patience, caring and her signature dry wit.
Joy and Jay opened a new chapter in their lives when they retired to a beautiful new home in the Eastman community in Grantham, New Hampshire in 1996. The lakes and mountains appealed to their love of natural beauty and opportunity for outdoor adventures. There they celebrated their (surprise!) 50th wedding anniversary with family and old and new friends at the Center in Eastman.
Joy chose her final home in Concord, New Hampshire, a small cottage with stunning sunset views at Havenwood Heritage Heights. She took great enjoyment in furnishing and decorating her new home, creating a place of beauty with her careful choice of artwork and furniture . She started anew, making friends, joining bridge and card groups, learning mahjong and taking local bus trips to nearby New England sites. Daily crosswords and word puzzles, following national news and especially politics, and internet searches for all that interested her in the world kept her mind sharp and engaged. Her zest for life, carefree spirit, generosity, and sense of adventure greatly enriched the lives of her children and grandchildren as she provided or prompted new experiences often. She was always up for anything, kind, and so much fun to be with her grandchildren would remark.
She continued her walks as able, alone and with friends and was proud of reaching her 1 mile goal. She remained involved in the lives of her three children, six grandchildren and great granddaughter despite the pandemic, and stayed in close contact with her family with frequent phone calls, zoom meetings (not her favorite!), drive by visits and a picnic at White Park in Concord.
Joy is survived by her children David Sturdevant of Hancock, New York, Lyn Davis of Goshen, CT and Colleen Ericson and her husband Peter Ericson of Grantham, NH. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Laura (Davis) Edge and her husband David Edge, Mark Davis, Eric Davis, Rachel Sturdevant, Finn Ericson and Axel Ericson, her great granddaughter Lillian Edge, and her nephews Clay Martin and Douglas Martin.There will be a graveside service in the spring, where Joy will join her husband Jay under the New Hampshire sky. Chadwick Funeral Home in New London, New Hampshire is assisting with the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.