Thatcher, Joyce Edna of Scottsdale passed away on October 10, 2016. Joyce was born on April 29, 1936 in Baltimore to David and Catherine Feeser along with her older sister, Althea. At the age of seventeen Joyce met her future husband Wes Thatcher while he served with the U.S. Army Signal Corps. It was a whirlwind courtship, beginning with a card game on the front porch with neighbors and they were married a year later. Wes took a position with Motorola and the young couple relocated to Arizona in 1956. Over the next three years, the couple welcomed two children into their home. Trish and Keith remember her as a smart, driven woman and a patient mother who always encouraged them to pursue their goals. As a young woman Joyce was able to balance motherhood and college and proudly graduated from Arizona State University in 1965 with a degree in Elementary Education, later earning a Masters degree. She went on to enjoy a successful 30 plus year career as a teacher and was honored by the Scottsdale chapter of the the Phi Delta Kappa as the 1991 Educator of the Year. After retiring from the Scottsdale Unified School District Joyce enjoyed many years of travel throughout the United States and Europe with her longtime companion Michael Franklin. She will be remembered as a wonderful mother, a dedicated teacher and a loyal friend. Joyce is survived by her children, Trish "Patti" Thatcher of Scottsdale, AZ, Keith Thatcher, his wife Jenny and her grandchildren Travis and Zach all of Austin, TX. She is also survived by her cousin Stewart Hobbs of Pomfret, MD and her her longtime companion Michael Franklin of Grimsby, England. She is preceded in death by her husband, Wesley Duane Thatcher of Scottsdale, AZ; and her sister Althea "Lee" Palmer of Baltimore, Maryland. A memorial is scheduled at 1:00 p.m. on October 18th at Mountain View Presbyterian Church 8050 E. Mountain View Road with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Joyce's life. In lieu of flowers the family would like donations to be made to 1510 E. Flower St. Scottsdale, AZ 85014.