Joyce Evelyn McDonald Terry

Posted

On Sept. 30, 2020, after a brief illness and at the age of 90, Joyce Evelyn McDonald Terry passed away and joined her family that predeceased her. Joyce spent her final days at home, on the family farm, in the care of her daughters, just as she wished. 

Joyce was born Jan. 20, 1930, to Clarence Sr. and Harriett Rockefeller Scoville McDonald on the McDonald farm in the town of Colchester. She attended Downsville Central School. On Oct. 5, 1946, she married Malcolm Terry on the McDonald farm where she lived her entire life. They had three daughters, Virginia (Ginny) Amato (deceased) (Richard Bennett), Teresa Skinner (Lynn), and Anna Betsy Mattice (Glenn). A farming accident left her husband paralyzed from the waist down in 1957. She, the three girls, family and friends operated the dairy farm while Malcolm was hospitalized. When Mac returned from the hospital, they equipped the farm equipment with hand controls and he and Joyce continued to operate the dairy farm until the 1970s. A family stalwart, Joyce grew prolific gardens, canned fruits and vegetables, raised chickens and sold eggs, boarded horses, and raised beef cows. Joyce was known for raising orphaned fawns. She was also a hunter, and skinned deer for her friends and family during hunting season. Until a couple of weeks before her passing, Joyce was still mowing her lawns, tending to her koi pond and completing word search puzzle books by the dozen. She was sharp as a tack until her final days.

Joyce was predeceased by her two sisters, Mildred and Elizabeth, three brothers - Ralph, Clifford and Clarence (Stub) Jr. McDonald, and her husband Malcolm, who passed in 1996. 

Joyce was blessed with seven grandchildren: Lesa Farrell (Chris), James (Tony) Amato, Travis Amato, Justin Amato (deceased), Brad Skinner (Jenna), Lara Skinner (Josh), and Nicole Gardner; 11 great-grandchildren, Matthew, Malcolm, and Katrina Skinner; Logen, Adysen, Keegen, and Colten Farrell; James Michael Amato; Lana and James Gardner; and Mays Skinner-Kellermann. 

A private service celebrating her life will be held on the family’s farm.

The family would like to thank the community for their support over the years. When Malcolm was hurt and when their farmhouse burned, the community came together to help care for the family and the farm and help build a new house. Whenever Joyce had extra from her garden she shared it freely with those in need. These acts of kindness show the true spirit of community and should remind us that, in such troubling times as these, kindness towards the least among us is the glue that keeps us together.  

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Harris Funeral Home, Railroad Avenue, Roscoe; www.Harris-FH.com;  607-498-4929 or 845-439-5200.