Joyce Damron Kevorkian

NOTRE DAME-Retired real estate broker and longtime engaged community member, Joyce Damron Kevorkian passed away at Center for Hospice in Mishawaka of congestive heart failure on October 14th. Joyce was born August 9, 1935, in Oak Park, Illinois to Raiman W. and Helen (McLean) Damron. As a child, Joyce loved to read–in the library by the fireplace during the winter and hidden away up in a tree in the summer. The joy of reading and the imagination of the characters coming to life was the beginning of her love of theatre. Her passion for literature led to her degree in English at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.In a creative writing class, she heard a student in the back laughing at the professor's bad jokes. That man was Harry Kevorkian whom she married on June 7th, 1958 after they both had graduated. Together, they had three children who survive: Virginia Grace Kevorkian of Decatur, Georgia, Raiman James Kevorkian of Swampscott, Massachusetts, and Melissa Ann Kevorkian (Jack Fields) of West Harrison, Indiana. Also surviving are her twin grandchildren, Anna Kevorkian Collier (Clay Collier) of Arlington, Virginia and Gregory Kevorkian Harris of Idyllwild, California; three step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. Joyce and Harry were married for 53 years when Harry Kevorkian passed away on October 9th, 2011. They shared a strong sense of humor, laughed easily and made life fun. During their time together they traveled, visited friends and family, attended theatre and became loyal supporters of the South Bend Civic Theatre, and took summer road trips to the Stratford Festival and the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood. Joyce was an avid sports fan, admiring the strategy of baseball and football, the speed of ice hockey, and the graceful athleticism of the players. Joyce and Harry attended nearly every Notre Dame home ice hockey game for years. Anyone who heard her cheering on her teams could surmise that she herself could be a formidable opponent.Joyce loved gardening and was known in her Granger neighborhood for planting thirty flats of impateins annually well into her late 70's. She worked to prevent the loss of endangered native flower species and traveled with a box and trowel in her trunk so she could pull over and "rescue" native wildflowers in vulnerable spots; her back wood lot was glorious with blooms. She loved animals and had dogs much of her life, sharing her last 10 years with a rescue dog, Dolly.When her children were no longer small, Joyce decided to become a real estate agent. Her ability to listen to her clients' needs and a determined, tenacious spirit led her to become the top selling agent in Saint Joseph County. In November 1989, she became managing broker at Cressy & Everett's leading office. Many agents today speak of her impactful mentoring skills. After nearly two decades at Cressy & Everett, Joyce retired and returned to volunteering.Joyce was committed to the Michiana community. Before her professional career she was an active volunteer serving as president of Service Guild and on the board for the Council for the Retarded. In 1975, she won the Enterprise Record George Award for recognition of her contributions. Joyce was an active member of P.E.O. International, an organization dedicated to helping women achieve their professional goals through education, and remained an active member until her death. As a longtime supporter of The South Bend Civic Theatre, Joyce served on the theatre board. For many years Joyce bought dolls, hand-made beautiful outfits for them and donated them to the Salvation Army for children at Christmas time. Joyce was active in Chicks in Charge and Wednesday Club.Several lonely years after Harry died in 2011, Joyce and Jim Bowman, who had lost his wife of over 50 years, reconnected, and rekindled the prom date flame. They had attended the prom together at York Community High School in Elmhurst, IL. Although they went their separate ways to attend college, their story resumed sixty-four years later. On April 1, 2017, Joyce and Jim exchanged vows. Jim survives and is loved by Joyce's family as he brought happiness to her life during the time they had together.A celebration of life for Joyce will be held on Thursday, November 4th, with visitation 5:00 - 6:30 PM, followed by a service 6:30 – 7:00 PM at the McGann Hay, Granger Chapel, 13260 SR 23, enter off Cherry Rd., Granger, IN 46530. The family asks that all in attendance kindly wear a mask.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Phoenix Scholarship Fund of the South Bend Rotary Club, the South Bend Civic Theatre, the Salvation Army, Pet Refuge, or the Center for Hospice Care.To send private condolences, please visit:http://www.mcgannhay.com/condolences.html