Joyce Mason Jelley

Joyce Mason Jelley, Aged 80, of 95 Elm Street, Milford, NH passed away on January 14, 2012 at St. Joseph’s Hospital after a long struggle with dementia and other complications. Joyce was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1932 to Raymond George Mason (d: 1997) and Helen (Jackson) Mason (d: 1995). The family lived in San Pedro, CA while Joyce attended school in the local area. She went to Harbor Junior College for a couple years, and then transferred to UCLA to finish a BA and a teaching degree. She met Robert Jelley, who lived next door to her sorority, and eventually married him in 1956. Robert meantime passed the civil service exam and became a Foreign Service Officer. After teaching elementary school for a couple years in the Los Angeles area, between 1957 and the mid-70’s, they moved around to various diplomatic posts, such as South Vietnam, England, Dutch Guiana and The Netherlands. In 1979, Joyce moved to San Pedro CA to be near her parents and eventually divorced Robert in 1985. Joyce held positions of increasing responsibility in the internal law departments as an administrative assistant for E-Systems and then Mattel Toys. In the meantime, she met and enjoyed a long relationship with E. F. Bill Eisemann (d: 2004), who also lived in San Pedro. After a brief job at a synagogue local to San Pedro, Joyce retired in the mid-90’s, eventually moving to Milford, New Hampshire in 1999 to be with her children. Joyce enjoyed reading, cooking international food, decorating and talking with friends and family. She is survived by her three children: Derek Terveer and his wife Linda of Eagan, MN; Deborah Jelley and husband Paul Kenney of Hollis, NH and Vanessa Jelley-Gohl and her partner Paul Molloy of New Ipswich, NH. Her only brother, Bruce Weaver Mason passed away in 2002 in Portsmouth VA, but she is likely survived by her nephews, twins Tom and Tim Mason and niece Robin Mason. Memorial visiting hours and celebration of life for both our parents will be held at Smith & Heald Funeral Home at 63 Elm St., Milford, NH on August 23rd, 2018 from 3pm – 5pm. In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to the New England Paralyzed Veteran’s Association (www.nepva.org).