Kathryn Joyce Worsencroft Ball
11/21/1933 – 11/29/2021
“She lived a more glorious life than she could ever have imagined,” said a close family friend when she learned that Joyce had died. Anyone who watched the humble beginnings of young Joyce Worsencroft took a whole crystal ball to predict that she would live such a full life of love, adventure, and experiences that surpassed her dearest dreams.
Kathryn Joyce Worsencroft Ball was born on November 21, 1933 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the only daughter of Leland and Kathryn Jensen Worsencroft and the little sister of three older brothers. She died on November 29, 2021, just under a week after she turned 88.
While studying at the University of Utah, Joyce worked in the old ZCMI department store as an elevator operator and model. She met the love of her life, handsome Fred S. Ball, in that elevator while working in the men’s hat department at ZCMI. They were married on July 2, 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple. For 65 years they had a very special, loving bond that evoked great affection, respect, friendship and happiness. They were a team. A great team! Joyce began her lifelong career looking after her four daughters. After 5 years in San Francisco, the family returned to Salt Lake in 1966 and Fred assumed a new position as President of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. During his 25 years with the Chamber, Fred Joyce has sought assistance on the many projects they have both been involved in. Joyce’s social and entertaining skills were a great asset to all of these endeavors.
Joyce has always served in the LDS Church and served as the president of Relief Society and Primary. She was called to serve as Assistant Director of Church Hosting in Temple Square for seven years, meeting and visiting dignitaries from around the world. Her zest for life, her exuberant personality, her beauty and her demeanor made her a gracious and enthusiastic hostess.
Joyce was a great traveler and enjoyed visiting different parts of the world. She and Fred made at least one overseas trip a year for over 25 years.
Joyce’s life revolved around her family. She loved her husband, her four daughters, her sons-in-law, and her precious and adored grandchildren and great-grandchildren deeply. Her home was always open and the place for regular family gatherings of the “thundering flock”.
Joyce and her four daughters Kathryn Kristy, Kimberly and Karalyn had a special bond. Every year Joyce hosted a girls’ getaway where they could visit, shop, eat, and repeat. The Ball Girls would look forward to this annual event and Joyce loved making plans for her adventure.
“Nana” had a special meaning for Joyce. She loved being a grandmother and her grandchildren always knew that they had a great support system in their nana. She never missed a game, lecture, play, concert, performance, lecture, ordinance, or other event involving a grandchild. If she appeared in an eight-performance play, she would be the focus of all eight performances. She showed great pride in the many achievements of her precious offspring and always let them know of her great pride.
In death, Nana preceded her husband Fred S. Ball, her parents and her three brothers James, Jerry and John Worsencroft. She is survived by her daughters Kathryn (Mark) Van Wagoner; Kristy (Richard) Dibblee; Kimberly (John) Dahlstrom) and Karalyn (Howard) Diederich; 16 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, 5 more are on the way.
Joyce’s family would like to express their deepest appreciation and love for Kim Gladstone and the Spring Garden Senior Living staff, where Joyce has lived for 15 months. They loved our mother very carefully, and she loved her too. We are so grateful to her for her dedication so that we could spend our time just loving her.
The memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Visit at 11:00 a.m. and church service at 12:00 p.m. The funeral will take place in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.
Published by The Salt Lake Tribune December 3-10, 2021.
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