Joyce Elaine Doty

     Joyce Elaine Doty, age 82, of Elsie, MI, passed away Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at her daughter's house surrounded by her family.
     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with Pastor Andy Goodrich officiating. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 30, 2026, from 2-8 P.M. with the family present from 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home.
     Joyce was born in St. Louis, MI on November 7, 1943, the daughter of Cecil Jones and Clara (Colbry) Gallihugh. On July 3, 1961, she married Gaylord Doty at Lake Lansing, East Lansing, MI. They spent 28 years together prior to his passing on March 3, 1990.
     Joyce was a seasoned traveler, taking multiple bus tours around the country every year. Her favorite places to go were Nashville, TN, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, and Hawaii. She also enjoyed exploring her home state of Michigan with her daughter Barb, and her favorite chauffeur Kevin.
     Lighthouses and Christmas trees lit up Joyce's world. She was infatuated Victorian Christmas decorations, and amazed her family with a different theme every year. Joyce bought enough gifts to fill her daughter's Christmas tree at her house for Christmas Day. It always took at least two trips to bring them all over.
     Family time was important to Joyce. She always had time for her grandkids, great-grandbabies, and even her grand-dog Tucker. One of her favorite pastimes was to go shopping with her best friend, Judy Bellant. When she wasn't doing that, she was sitting at McDonald's for hours with a book in hand and visiting with whoever came to her table.
     She is survived by her daughter Barb (Kevin Rewerts) Toth; her grandchildren: Brent (Amanda) Halfman, Jordon (Chelsie) Halfman, and Justin (Lindsay Uribe) Toth; step-granddaughter Alisha (Eric) Peters; eleven great-grandchildren: Paisley Halfman, Ahnah Halfman, Blake Stevens, Madisyn Halfman, Reece Halfman, Emelia Joyce Halfman, Alivia Peters, Alerica Peters, Ricky Peters, Chandler Toth, and Dahlilia Toth; her sister Linda Pettigrew; two sisters-in-law: Freda (Al) Sober, and Mary Thelen; and brothers-in-law: Russell Doty, and Darwin Beaufore. Joyce is also survived by her best friend Judy Bellant; and many nieces, nephews and close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Clara and Delbert Gallihugh, her husband Gaylord, infant son, Jerry Allen Doty, her brothers: Mack Leon Jones, Ronald Dean Jones, and Robert Jones; sister Judy Skorna; two step-grandsons: Davey Toth and Bobby Toth, sisters-in-law: Joan Doty and Hila Beaufore; brother-in-law Robert Pettigrew; in-laws Ora and Loree Wolcott; and one nephew Steven Doty.
     Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.