Eleanor “Joyce” Bottemiller passed away on April 5, 2016 in the comfort of her Bayside home. Born on June 13, 1930 in Havre, Montana, her family moved to Portland, Oregon when she was in grade school. She met Fred Bottemiller in the 7th grade and they were married on September 13, 1952. She attended college at Pacific Lutheran University in Washington until they moved to California. They moved to Humboldt County in 1956 and have made this their home base since. Together, they owned and operated Barnes Family Drug Store on the Arcata Plaza for many years in addition to Mad River Hospital Pharmacy and Willow Creek Pharmacy. She supported the pharmacy business and was a devoted home maker for many years while raising their 3 children. She had a knack for style and one of her favorite things was attending out of town gift shows; picking out all the latest items that they would sell in their stores. She also enjoyed her ladies trips to the city where she and her friends got dressed in their finest, went shopping, enjoyed season tickets to theatre shows, and explored new restaurants.

She had incredible musical talent and was a classically trained pianist and organist from the time she was 7 years old. She would often play for weddings, funerals and other community gatherings, and was even invited to play for the Queen of England while attending Pacific Lutheran University. Her love of music and ability to play anything by ear made her the center of her family growing up and carried on to her children and grandchildren. Her annual Christmas Eve party was a big tradition, always filled with crab, friends, family, and of course Joyce playing the piano while everyone gathered around close and sang together.

In 1974, they purchased property in Willow Creek and built their vacation home and what would become a hub and gathering place for friends and family. Many happy days were spent gardening, reading, golfing, and just floating in their pool. She loved to travel and through the years, enjoyed countless journeys and amazing destinations, exploring almost every continent and hundreds of different countries throughout the world. She especially loved to cruise and genuinely appreciated learning about different people and cultures. She was always planning her next venture.

For many years, Joyce and Fred spent winters down at their other vacation home in Mesa, Arizona as “snow birds” and reveled in the warm climate and endless parties and activities. She was appropriately nicknamed “Sparky” by what would become some of her closest friends. She loved being the life of the party and was always happiest in a social atmosphere. Her annual St. Patrick’s Day party was a highlight for many and of course, featured music, great food, and wonderful friends. She was also very proud of her lucky streak and enjoyed playing quarter poker in Reno and Laughlin, on their way back and forth to Arizona. We lost count but know she won at least 33 royal flushes throughout the years.

Joyce loved people and people loved her. She was well read, a remarkable story teller, and had an amazing way of connecting with others that made everyone in her presence feel important and valued. She was a strong woman, with a bit of a stubborn streak, but always knew what she wanted, even in her final months. She will be fondly remembered as a wonderful friend, loving wife, caring mother, role model to her grandchildren and matriarch of our family. Her quick wit, contagious smile, magnetic personality, and musicality will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. We like to think that her new journey takes her to a wonderful place where she is reunited with loved ones and where she will continue to be the life of the party; socializing, dancing, gardening, and reading to her hearts content, where music will continue to be front and center and laughter and love are guaranteed.

She is predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Katherine Larson, her brothers Joseph, Howard, and Norman Larson, and son Cary “Jay” Bottemiller. Since her passing, her other son, Craig Bottemiller also passed away. She is survived by her husband and love of her life for 63 years, Fred Bottemiller, daughter Karen Jackson, granddaughter Jenny Bowen (Greg), grandsons Justin Jackson, and Ryan Jackson (Josie), and 3 great grandchildren, Ashlyn, Taylor, and Boyd. She is also survived by many caring cousins, nieces, nephews and family members.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 15 at the Lutheran Church in Arcata on 16th Street at 1 p.m. There will be a reception at the church following the ceremony. All who knew and loved her are invited to attend.