Kathleen Theresa Joyce Wilber passed away Feb. 5 from complications of a stroke.

Kathleen was born Nov. 30, 1923, in Juntura to John P. “Jack” Joyce and Catherine T. “Katy” Grealish Joyce. She was the fourth of their five children, and many times referred to herself as the “middle child”.  Jack and Katy immigrated to the United States from Ireland in the early 1900s and made their way west from the shipyards and boarding houses of the east coast, ultimately to Juntura, where they raised sheep, cattle, and their family.

In 1912, Jack established a homestead on Cottonwood Creek, north of Drewsey, that served as the summer quarters for the sheep operation. Kathleen often spoke of the fun she, her brother, sisters, and cousins enjoyed camping in the summers on Cottonwood. In fact, she revered the Cottonwood property and acquired it for her own in 1967. She held title to her father’s homestead until the day she died.

Kathleen married Wright Wilber in 1941, and later that year, delivered her first son, Bill, into the world. Kathleen and Wright lived at the Wilber homestead on Stinkingwater Creek the first few years of their marriage. After their second son, Mike, was born in 1945, the fledgling family moved to the Drewsey Field, a few miles south of Drewsey. At the time, the only building on the property was a barn.

A son, Pat, was born in 1946, and George came along in 1949. Kathleen was 26 years old with four little kids, a workaholic husband, hired hands to cook for, and a vision of one day handing it all over to “you boys”.

Wright and Kathleen worked hard and, with great determination, turned the Drewsey Field into the Drewsey Field Ranch that thrives today. Kathleen’s vision was fulfilled. She was noticeably modest, but extremely proud of her accomplishments and her heritage as the daughter of Irish immigrants. She lived her life with dignity and was forever a lady, loved and admired accordingly.

Kathleen was especially proud of her four sons, dressing them in starched white shirts and creased Levis to show their 4-H steers and most any other event that required dress up. She was insistent that they gain as much education as they could, recognizing her own limitations as a high school graduate when both her sisters were college graduates with professional careers.

She was coincidentally proud and fearful while her four sons wore the uniform of the United States Army during the Vietnam War. She was equally proud of her nephews and grandchildren, Marilyn and Cody, for their military service. She believed strongly in the American idiom that, “Freedom is not free.”

In 1991, Kathleen and her sister, Barbara, traveled to Ireland to meet the “relatives,” as she called them. In fact, they did meet up with family on both sides, Joyce and Grealish. Her contact with Irish relatives has helped many of the next generation make connections with Ireland and the extended family there.

Kathleen lived independently at the ranch for several years after Wright passed away. In 2012, knee replacement surgery led her to take up residence at The Aspens in Hines. She was happy there and doted on by the staff to whom she always sincerely said, “Oh, thank you, honey,” learning long ago that, “You catch many more flies with honey than vinegar.” Her health began to deteriorate in 2016 after a stroke confined her to a wheelchair.

Kathleen is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Patsy, Pat and Judy, George and Mary Ann; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son, Mike, in 2004; and husband, Wright, in 2005. She was the last survivor of the Jack and Katy Joyce children.

There will be a recitation of the rosary beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Holy Family Catholic Church. The rosary will be immediately followed by Holy Mass.

Contributions in Kathleen’s memory may be made to Burns Elks Lodge No. 1680 and/or Holy Family Catholic Church, in care of LaFollette’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, OR 97720.