Joyce Marlene Williams Tuft

Joyce Marlene Williams Tuft, 88, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2025 of causes incident to age. She was born March 10, 1936 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada to John Wesley Williams and Maurine Day. Joyce was the oldest of the six Williams children. She married Donald M. Butler on August 7, 1953. They later divorced. Joyce and Roscoe L. Tuft married on February 21, 1970 and were later sealed in the Las Vegas temple on March 22, 2008. They spent 55 years together.

Joyce was raised and educated on the plains around Raymond, Alberta, Canada. After she married, she lived in various parts of the province but mostly stayed in Calgary and Edmonton. Joyce and her young family emigrated to Brigham City, Utah in 1964. She was employed in various industries, eventually settling into the grocery business as a cashier and later management. She retired in 1997. Joyce continued to raise her family in Sandy, Utah before moving to Las Vegas with Roscoe as empty nesters. They later retired in Diamond Valley in the St. George area of Utah.

Outdoor activities were Joyce’s favorite. She loved water skiing, boating, camping, horseback riding on her favorite horse Lady, RV travel, and gardening. She had an incredible green thumb and loved the many animals and pets she had throughout her life. She loved her longhorns, Henry and Peggy Sue. Joyce also enjoyed bowling, canning and preserving, traveling to Hawaii, country western music, rodeos, attending the LDS temple, and card games. Joyce happily left the cold and inversion when she moved to Las Vegas and southern Utah.

Joyce is survived by her husband, Roscoe L. Tuft of Diamond Valley, seven living children: Donald (Valme) Butler, Kim (William) Johnston, Tom (Gloria) Butler, Kevin Butler, Mary (Marcel) Willden, Rex (Shelly) Butler, Brenda Belmonte (R.J. Guillen), two step-sons: Michael Tuft, and Troy (Terra Lynne) Tuft, and siblings: Larraine Featherstone, Sharon Anderson, Jean Ferguson, and Ross Williams. She leaves behind 25 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Larry Williams, her daughter Beverly Butler, her son Byron Butler, and great-great-grandson Leo Hunter.

Funeral services will be Friday, February 21, 2025, at 11 a.m. at the Diamond Valley Stake Center (1784 W Diamond Valley Dr., St. George, Utah). The viewing will be held at 9:30 a.m. on the same day and at the same location. Interment will take place in the Monroe Mountain Cemetery in Monroe, Utah later that day.

Arrangements are made under the direction of Hughes Mortuary, 1037 East 700 South, St. George, Utah. (435) 674-5000. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society or any Latter-day Saints charity.