Joy Longmire died Sept. 25, 2013, in Enumclaw, surrounded by family.

She was born Maelizabeth Joy Phinney on Sept. 25, 1935, in Port Townsend, Wash. She graduated from Tahoma High School in 1954 then earned a degree in education from Washington State College. She began her career teaching physical education at North Thurston High School and ended it teaching at the Early Childhood Development Center in Sumner. She spent 20 years between her career stops on Fair Breeze Farm in Olympia, Wash., raising her family and helping run the family business.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Ken; three children; brother Jim Phinney and family; and six grandchildren.