From the Eau
Claire Leader-Telegram
Joan
Marie Laycock Carter
Joan Marie Laycock Carter, age
79, of Eau Claire, WI, passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at
Oakwood Health after enduring a long illness.
Joan was born April 23, 1941, to parents Nora and Dean Laycock. Along
with her parents and older sisters Faye and Judy, she moved to Eau
Claire in 1950. The birth of Linda and Constance completed the
"Beautiful Laycock Girls". She graduated in 1959 from Memorial High
School and began her studies at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
to pursue a career in social work.
In 1962, Joan joined the Peace Corps and spent two years in Peru before
returning to Eau Claire to complete her Bachelor of Social Work Degree
with a minor in Spanish. Their shared Peace Corps experience brought
Joan and Bill Carter together during the summer of 1968. Bill was the
love of her life and they married in September 1971 at the Carter family
cabin on the Flambeau River.
Joan and Bill opened Space On Delivery, a book and food store on Water
Street that was committed to opening new perspectives. They moved to
Minneapolis in 1974, where Joan worked at Senior Resources, a nonprofit
that provided services to the elderly and persons with disabilities
living in public housing. Joan's lifelong dedication to the betterment
of all people was truly a testament of the person she was. She was
honored and humbled to advocate for everyone and always with love and
compassion.
Matthew William Laycock Carter was born September 13, 1978 and adopting
Isabelle Maria Laycock Carter, born September 7, 1984, completed the
family. Her family was her life. She enjoyed taking trips to Mazatlán
and the American West, but her time spent at home or at the family cabin
is where Joan was the happiest. She spent much of her time in the
kitchen preparing a wonderful meal even managing to create something to
meet Isabelle's pickiness. She always wanted the family together. She
appreciated the beauty of music, art and poetry often spending time
creating her own. Joan applied that love of beauty into her everyday
fashion and appearance. If she wasn't ready, you were waiting. Many
evenings were enjoyed sitting and chatting with Bill, watching their
favorite shows or reading books. She loved to make people happy and
would make silly faces across the room to get a laugh, become overly
competitive on family game nights, and help cheer on whatever sports
team Matthew was rooting for. In recent years, Joan enjoyed visits with
her family and grandkids, sharing stories and being loved.
Joan is preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Faye Amundson and
Judy Greene, and her infant daughter Michelle Beth. Joan is survived by
her husband William Carter, son Matthew (Jolene Parker) Carter, daughter
Isabelle (Sean) Thomas, grandchildren, Ari and Mirah Parker, Charlotte
Podhaski, Walker Thomas and sisters Linda Laycock and Constance (Alan)
Floyd. She will be greatly missed by her family, coworkers and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Her ashes will be
interred near her mother and father's graves in Forest Hill Cemetery.
Joan's family asks that memorials be sent to charities that serve the
poor.
|