Joyce Ann Bates, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, Illinois, passed peacefully into eternal life with God on Friday, September 6, after a long illness. She was born on March 13, 1937, and grew up fifty miles north of Detroit in the small village of Ortonville. Joyce was one of four children and the only daughter of Benjamin and Grace (Schatzley) Morgan. A graduate of Taylor University, Joyce was a high school teacher at Avondale High School, Clawson High School, and Lutheran High School North, all in suburban Detroit. She met her husband, David, when both were first-year teachers at Avondale High School, and they married before the school year was out on March 25, 1961. Well-liked and respected by her students and fellow teachers, Joyce taught business classes, oversaw the co-op program that gave students work experience in local businesses, and advised the yearbook staff. For years she primarily taught courses like typing and shorthand, but when computers were introduced to schools in the 1990s, she gamely taught herself how to use and teach some of the earliest programs.

While Joyce excelled in the classroom, she devoted herself to her family, particularly her two children, Mike and Kim. She and David were their greatest cheerleaders, never missing one of their concerts or athletic events. The family enjoyed many visits to her parents' home near Lake Huron and to the summer home of David's parents near Lake Superior. For nearly forty years, Joyce and David were residents of Rochester Hills, Michigan, and active members of St. John Lutheran Church, Rochester, where she particularly enjoyed her involvement in LifeLight Bible studies. Joyce also was an accomplished gardener, watercolor artist, book group organizer, and world traveler with David. They moved to Elgin, Illinois, in 2014 to be closer to Kim's family before moving to Windsor Park in 2020. Joyce and David especially appreciated their friends in the Community for Christ adult community at Wheaton Bible Church.

In addition to her husband, David, Joyce is survived by her children, Mike (Lorrie) Bates of Kettering, Ohio, and Kim (Eric) Miller of Carol Stream; and her grandchildren, Nate (Rachael) Miller, Tim (Sara) Bates, Luke Miller, and Lily Bates; brother Jerry Morgan; brother-in-law Gerald (Darlynn) Bates; sister-in-law Annemarie Bates; cousins Jack (Kay) Schatzley, Janice (Steve) Stevens, Butch (Marie) Schatzley, and Judy Kern; and many nieces and nephews, including Cindya (Roger) Hills, Antoinette (Ken) LaVere, Gary Morgan, Benjamin Morgan, Kevin (Michele) Bates, Denise Flynn, Bryan (Janet) Bates, Shannon (Albert) Locke, Marissa (Rick) Binkowksi, and Scott Morgan.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; David's parents, Loring and Gertrude Bates; brothers Roy Morgan and Melvin Morgan; brother-in-law James Bates; sister-in-law Diane Morgan; nephew Roy Morgan, Jr., and niece Sharon Morgan.

The life and legacy of Joyce Bates will be celebrated by friends and family at Wheaton Bible Church, 27W500 North Avenue, Carol Stream, Illinois, on Friday, September 13. A visitation will begin at noon, followed by a funeral service at 1 pm. Live Stream of the service may be found here

Memorial gifts may be directed to Taylor University, Upland, Indiana.

Family and friends may sign a guest book hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027