Joyce Matson

Joyce Arlene (Bransford) Matson

January 30, 1934 - October 5, 2026

Joyce Matson passed away peacefully into the arms of God on October 5, 2026, at the

age of 92. She was born on January 30, 1934, to Alvin G. Bransford and Berniece M. (Heath)

Bransford in Yakima, Washington.

She spent her childhood in the Castlevale area playing in the orchards, along the Naches

River and up Garretson’s Grade. She was the eldest of the five children in her family, being big

sister to Charles Duane, James, Joan and Steve. She graduated from Yakima High School in

1952, and soon after met a young Navy man named Paul Matson. They married in 1953 at Long

Beach, California, and started their family with David in 1955. When Paul’s enlistment ended,

they returned home to his family’s Selah Heights fruit ranch, where they lived for the next 65

years. In the 50s and 60s they added five more children, Roger, Mike, Janet, Beth and Jeanne.

Joyce was a busy mother and homemaker. Over the years she also worked various jobs

from telephone operator to assistant secretary at Franklin Junior High to apple picker during

harvest. The family enjoyed many years of camping, hiking, snowmobiling, fishing, and

hunting. As the children grew up and left the nest, Paul and Joyce added travel to their list of

activities. They thoroughly enjoyed their many trips to Hawaii, Alaska, western Canada, the

Southwest and Florida, as well as seeing all of the sights of Washington State and the Pacific

Coast. They shared many of their adventures with close friends, and were always up for a good

game of cards. Joyce was an avid creator of cross-stitch, and sewed until her sight and hands

would have no more.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Duane and sister Joan, and by her

husband Paul, sons David and Mike, daughter Jeanne, and nephew Tim. Her in-laws, Roger and

Alice, Keith and MaryEllen, Alan, Marc and Dorothy, George, and Darlene also precede her, as

well as her dear great grandson, Micheal.

She is survived by her brothers James and Steve (Debbie), her son Roger and his wife

Deb, her daughter Janet and her husband Norm, her daughter Beth, and her grandchildren: Lisa

(John), Paige (Scooter), Serene, Matt, Dave, Tara (Andy), Shelby (Jared), and Annie. She also

leaves her great-grandchildren, Morgan, Josh, Jake, Hope, Nia, Alastor, Victoria, Chance, Caine,

Gracie, Colter, Ridge and Banks, her great-great-granddaughters, Mia and Phoenix, her nieces

Lyn, Suzy, Dee, Terri, and Lynette, her nephews Jon, Chris, Doug, Greg, Tim, Terry, and Pat, as

well as her loving cousins from Walla Walla.

The family wishes to thank the kind and diligent staff at Apple Creek Adult Family

Home and Heartlinks Hospice for their tender care at the end of her life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held October 16, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of

Lourdes Catholic Church , 1107 West Fremont Ave., Selah, Washington. A visitation will

precede the mass beginning at 10:00 a.m., and a reception and lunch will follow.