Joyce Pyles, 73 / March 26, 1937 — Nov. 22, 2010

Published 3:33 pm Sunday, November 28, 2010

Joyce Pyles, 73

Joyce L. Pyles, 73, of High Street, Edwardsburg, died peacefully with her family and beloved cats Nov. 22 at her home.

She was born Joyce Lucille Hallberg in Minneapolis, Minn. on March 26, 1937. She graduated 27th in her class of 600 from North High School in 1955, excelling in drawing, painting and modern dance. Although unable to attend, she was awarded a two-year scholarship to the Minneapolis Art Institute.

In 1957, she married Lloyd Loring in Buchanan and they lived in New Jersey before settling in South Bend, where she provided a wonderful home for her children filled with music, art and fun.

Over the years, Joyce was a Girl Scout leader, a librarian at Swanson Elementary School and involved in the Northern Indiana Historical Society. She was active with the St. Joseph Valley Zoological Society, Southhold Restorations and the Sports Car Club of America.

She was a top interior designer and salesperson for the Carriage House Ethan Allen store in South Bend.

Joyce married Eliot T. Pyles in 1974 and later moved to Edwardsburg, where they were active members of the Eagle Lake Sailing Club. Her lifelong love of thrift shopping, combined with her amazing intuition and encyclopedic knowledge of antiques and collectibles, led her to establish two Cats on the Cupboard shops at area antique malls from which she recently retired.

Joyce’s gift for conversation helped her make friends wherever she went. All will miss her creativity, curiosity, down-to-earth personality, playful attitude, unconditional acceptance and caring nature.

She was a beloved member of the Yesterday’s Children Doll Club, created extraordinary displays for the Edwardsburg Library and loved to play with her grandchildren.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Allen and Lucille (Wenger) Hallberg; sister, Elaine Macpherson; and husband, Eliot Pyles.

She is survived by a daughter, Elizabeth Loring (Larry White) of Charlottesville, Va.; son, William Loring (Maureen Kennedy) of Osceola, Ind.; grandchildren, Cailin Kennedy and Brian Loring; and a sister, Muriel Jenn of Sammamish, Wa. She is also survived by a son, Douglas Richardson of Lansing, Mich., and grandson, Ryan.

She leaves to cherish her memory her stepsons, Bill, Doug, Russell and James Pyles and their families as well as a loving circle of very special friends, including Marti Makielski, Phyllis Mason and Lee Tockman.

Friends and family will gather to celebrate Joyce’s life at Eagle Lake Sailing Club, 24046 South Shore Drive, Edwardsburg, on Friday, Nov. 26 at 11 a.m.

You are invited to remember her through donations in her name to the Edwardsburg Branch of the Cass District Library and the Cass County Animal Shelter.

The family also wishes to thank Hospice at Home of Buchanan for their compassionate care and encourage donations to their invaluable work.

Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, made arrangements.