Joyce L. Lyth

Joyce Lorraine Caylor Lyth

August 17, 1950 – March 1, 2014

Joyce’s battle with cancer ended on March 1, 2014. Joyce survived more than twice as long as expected thanks to her strong will, love and support from her husband, David, and from family and friends. She received excellent care from her friend, Dr. Marcia Liepman and the caring, considerate, and incredibly competent staff at the West Michigan Cancer Center.

She was born and raised in Wallace in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she was proud to be a Yooper. She decided she wanted to go to college, the first in her family to do so. She was accepted at Michigan Technological University back when the male to female ratio was 15 to 1. She graduated in 1972 with a B.S. in Accounting and started her professional career in Escanaba, Mich. as a cost accountant for Goodman-Staniforth.

On September 1, 1973 Joyce married David Lyth who she had met during their first week of college at Michigan Tech. They moved to Kalamazoo where Joyce joined the Stryker Corporation and eventually became their chief accountant. When Dave started his college teaching career at Michigan Tech in 1978, they moved back to in Houghton. Joyce provided accounting services to a number of firms in that area.

In 1981, Joyce and Dave relocated to Kalamazoo when Dave started his Ph.D. at Michigan State. Joyce worked at Ship-Pac as their controller through 1996. Joyce then joined Nucleus Communication as their controller. In 2004, she founded Accountant + Plus, an accounting services company. Joyce retired in 2010.

Throughout her career, Joyce was a successful woman in a man’s world. The work environment of the ‘70s and ‘80s didn’t expect the successful, competent business woman that Joyce was. Early on, she was an influential mentor to many of the people around her, both men and women. That mentoring continued even after she retired. She truly made a difference in the lives of the many people she touched.

Paramount to her work was her very strong sense of ethics. Many times, she put her job on the line to insist on ethical behavior. Joyce was able to relate well and talk to everyone, be they CEO, manager, factory worker, or clerk. All of them received Joyce’s respect and appreciation for the work they did.

Joyce had a wide circle of many close friends, going back to grade school and as far away as Hawai’I and Sweden. They appreciated her sense of humor and her compassion. Sse was always excited to see them, and she was always upbeat. She will be greatly missed.

Dave and Joyce held a number of Pig Roasts at their home, the most recent one was this past summer to celebrate 40 and 4--forty years married and four years as a cancer survivor. As the joke goes, “just a little party with 150 of our closest friends and relatives.” Dave usually burned the pig.

Joyce pursued many passions in life-- travel, gardening--but most importantly, family and friends. She was Aunt Joyce to her family, and just as much so to the children of good friends. Aunt Joyce was there for birthdays, celebrations, holidays, traveling, but most important, being “in the moment with” all of those children, even after they were “all grown up.” Her smile was warm and inviting and was always there. When she was with them, they knew she wasn’t multi-tasking or focused on something else. They got her undivided attention. She cared about them and loved them all.

Joyce traveled to all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Scandinavia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Las Vegas was a regular destination--games of chance, shows, and boating on Lake Mead. Joyce almost always won money. Early on, travels included camping and backpacking, including Isle Royale three times. With Dave, and with friends, she has spent spring break in Kailua Kona, Hawai’i every year since 1996, 18 years at the same hotel. Joyce and Dave formed friendships with families in Hawai’i, it was a very special spot for the two of them. Joyce’s favorite three vacations, after Kailua Kona, were rafting the Grand Canyon with Dave for their 25th anniversary, snowmobiling in Yellowstone, and cruising the coast of Norway over Midsummer’s Eve when the sun never went down. Lots of traveling for a Yooper Girl.

Joyce spent many hours gardening--flowers, vegetable gardens, and new potatoes every spring. She invited children over to plant, harvest, and cook those potatoes. The potatoes were a treat in the June and July months; they were cooked the Caylor way. Her flowers were many, varied, and beautiful, a bit of a challenge in their shady yard. Recently, she made quilts for children and families in need through The Binky Patrol, something she truly enjoyed because of its impact on children.

Joyce was always willing to try anything. She was a bowler, camper (even backpacking), canoeist (recreational and racer), she enjoyed cross country skiing and snowshoeing. Joyce did basket weaving and stained glass. She was an excellent deer tracker, something Dave and his deer camp buddies appreciated. She also was a regular at Doe Camp up north. More recently, Joyce driving her golf cart on the trails on their property in Lawton.

Family was probably the most important part of Joyce’s life. She and Dave made many trips to the UP, northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Atlanta to see them. Joyce’s parents, Omar and Jennie (Haulotte) Caylor, and an older brother, Jesse, have passed away. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, David; her brothers and their wives, Ed and Laurie Caylor (Marinette, Wis.) and Dale and Noreen Caylor (Wausaukee, Wis.); and a sister-in-law, Pat Caylor (Ashwaubenon, Wis.). Nieces and their families include Bonnie and Jamie Dalebroux and their children, Emily, Allison, and Erin (Allouez, Wis.); Kathy Morella and her children, Steele, Cooper, and Brooklyn (Ashwaubenon, Wis.); Robin and Brian Russow and their children, Hailee, Madison, Lilly, and Lincoln (Clintonville, Wis.); and Zaneta Setunsky (Iron Mountain, MI). Joyce’s aunt, Elsie Bair, still lives in Peshtigo, Wis. Joyce is also survived by her brother-in-law, Bill Lyth, and his wife, Janalee, and their daughter, Carolyn (Duluth, Minn.). A funeral will be held for Joyce at Zion Lutheran Church in Kalamazoo, Mich. on March 22 at 10 a.m. A celebration of her life will be held in May.

Joyce received excellent care at Rose Arbor Hospice; we thank them for the good work they do.

Joyce liked flowers, so they are always welcome. However, donations in Joyce’s name to continue the legacy she established can be made to the Joyce Caylor Lyth Memorial Scholarship Fund at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech Fund, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI 49931) or the West Michigan Cancer Center (200 N Park St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007).