The Whidbey Island Apple Lady from the Rock’n Apple Ranch died July 4, 2005 at Sonshine House in Coupeville. Joyce was born Sept. 4, 1934 in West Concord, Minn. to Merle and Etta Erdman Thomas.

Joyce was raised on a farm near West Concord, attended schools there and graduated from West Concord High School in 1952. The Thomas and Engle families were very close. Roy Engle was a few years older than Joyce and went off to join the US Navy in 1950. It was while home on leave in January of 1953 that Roy’s parents convinced him to visit the Thomas farm with them. It was during that visit that Joyce and Roy got reacquainted. It was a whirlwind courtship, for they were married on Feb. 12, only a month later.

Joyce and Roy traveled with the Navy, visiting Whidbey Island more than once. They bought acreage here in 1969; they returned in 1974 to create a little farm on Hunt Road they called The Rock’n Apple Ranch.

Joyce worked at several jobs during her adult life including Whidbey Stationers and the Navy Exchange. She was even a teacher’s aide in Rhode Island. But, it is said she loved the Rock’n Apple Ranch best of all. She helped plant young trees as Roy grafted them, helped tie, prune and train them, and as they matured and bore fruit, made many fast friends while operating her little store and waiting on apple and cider customers. 

Joyce is survived by her loving husband of more than 52 years at the Rock’n Apple Ranch; daughter Dineen with husband Harold Goss of Logan, Ohio; son Kevin with wife Wendy Engle of Las Cruces, N.M.; son Patrick Engle of Marysville; daughter Shawn Forquer of Reardon; son Kelly with wife Judy Engle of Lorain, Ohio; and mother-in-law Verna Engle of Oak Harbor. She also leaves sisters Lorraine Stettler of Canada and Lucille Larson of Iowa, brothers Lester Thomas, Charles Thomas and Eugene Thomas, all of Minnesota. She was preceded in death by brothers John and Ray Thomas, as well as both of her parents.

Visitation for Joyce was July at Burley Funeral Chapel followed by a Rosary at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church that evening. A Funeral Mass was held July 8 followed by a private family inurnment. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to either Sonshine House or Hospice.