Rhoda Joyce Jex Westenskow Obituary (1932 - 2018)

Rhoda Joyce Jex Westenskow passed away December 2, 2018, in Orem, Utah. Joyce was born August 24, 1932 in Provo, Utah. Joyce was the seventh child born to James Moses Jex and Celia Clementine Hiatt. As a young child age of 7 or 8 years of age, she survived rheumatic fever. This disease left Joyce with weakened heart condition, but those who knew “Aunt Joyce”, would never know it. She attended private school at Brigham Young High School, presently the Provo City Library. She graduated from grade school in 1950. Fun fact; her graduating class included the class president, President Dalin H. Oaks. We learned this neat fact from mom in 1990 when her 40th high school reunion was due and mom was at that time working in the Missionary Department of the LDS Church offices. Elder Oaks recruited mom to help track down the surviving members of their graduating class. Following her years of grade school she attended BYU and she worked in the BYU Administration Building as the administrative assistant to then, BYU president Wilkinson. She on occasion, was hired by a local department store to pose as shoe model, and her ankles were seen by many in the department store windows over the years. For her services she was paid in shoes. Mom’s shoe collection was very-much present throughout her life and even up to her death. While attending and working at BYU Joyce met a young man who lived in a bachelor pad known as “Ye Empty Arms”. This young man was William Vernile Westenskow. After years of an on-again and off-again courtship, Joyce waited for her suitor to finish a six year stint in the United States Air Force and Joyce and Vernile married on November 22nd 1957. They were blessed with 6 children over the next 11 years. Joyce worked most of her life; she had various full-time work and she and her sisters ran a catering company, A & C Catering short for her sister middle names, Ann and Celia; and was commonly known as “Aunts & Cousins Catering”. She worked as an administrative assistant to Paul Dunn in the early years of marriage when they lived in Southern California. She served as the reading clerk for Utah State Legislature for several years. She also worked for the Utah Educators Association for a time. She worked for the Rulon T. Burton law firm. Though not an official paralegal, she, like so many times before, wowed people with her natural ability to be successful in any role that she filled. Joyce loved the work with the Burton Law office, but with the failing health of her companion she sought employment that provided better health benefits. Joyce began working for the Missionary Department of the LDS Church Offices. She was adored by those that she worked with. She later filled a roll in that department that we came to know as the “International Mission”. She served as a communication and coordination portal for missionary couples that were serving in parts of the world that had not yet been open for missionary work. As couples returned to Church Headquarters, they without fail, found “Joyce” to put a face to the name. Many of them brought a gift particular to the nation that they had served in. She garnered a wonderful collection of thoughtful tokens she had received from these beloved missionary couples that she served. In the early 80’s Vernile learned his diabetes was advancing and over the course of the next decade Joyce supported and loved him as he endured renal failure that began in 1983, progressed into a state that required kidney dialysis and ultimately a kidney transplant in 1985. Later that year, Vernile had an amputation of his left leg from mid-calf down. In the fall of 1989, he lost his right leg to diabetic neuropathy. Finally, in December of 1990, William Vernile passed away. During this same time, Joyce continued to work, support her husband, support 2 missionaries, and marry of 3 of her children. Oh, one more thing, in the fall of 1990, Joyce, fell and dislocated her right shoulder. Her injury really spurred Vernile into action. He enjoyed taking care of her for a change. Joyce had a life filled with church service, organizing Gold and Green Ball events and coordinating Stake roadshows. She brought her special touch of class to everything she was involved. Following her sweetheart’s death in 1990 she began to have issues of declining health. She continued to do what she had always done; help her kids and serve others. Joyce lived by example, hers was a life of love and devotion for family as she witnessed weddings, births and the passing of brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews and friends. We, her children, are joyful in the knowledge that the Gospel teaches, that our dear, sweet Mother is finally reunited with our Dad after a long 28 years. Mom is survived by her sister, Mary Ellen Jolley of Salt Lake City, her six children, 22 grand-children and 28 great-grand-children: Kevin (Jackie) in Murray, Utah; Leni (Robert Jeans) in Newport Richie, Florida; Kim (Jeri) in Mesa, Arizona; Lisa (Eric Thompson) Pleasant Grove, Utah; Heath (Suzanne) in Gilbert, Arizona; Hal (Kathy) in Kearns, Utah. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018 at the Little Cottonwood Stake Center, 6180 S. Glenoaks Drive, Murray Utah. Viewings will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Home, 4760 S. State, Murray, Utah and 9:30 -10:30 a.m. at the church prior to the funeral service. Interment: Mountain View Memorial Cemetery.