Joyce Elliott DeCou

Joyce Patricia Elliott DeCou

September 19, 1935 - November 1, 2025 

Joyce Patricia Elliott DeCou, 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by family after a short illness on November 1, 2025.  Joyce was born on September 19, 1935 in Atascadero, California to Dudley and Claire Elliott.  She grew up in Atascadero and graduated from Atascadero High School in 1953 and was a proud member of the “53” girls who met frequently for lunch.  She attended the University of California, Berkeley during the ‘53-’54 school year and was selected as the Sigma Chi Sweetheart.  She returned to Atascadero to marry Jerry Wilkins DeCou III on August 1, 1954.  Jerry and Joyce were married for 68 years prior to Jerry’s death in 2023.  Joyce and Jerry had four children, Jeanine, Jerry IV (Jay), Jeff and John. After John was born, there were four children under four.  This kept Joyce very busy in their first years of marriage.  

Joyce also supported Jerry as he purchased his dad’s share of Hagle-DeCou Lumberyard and when he purchased the business outright in 1972 which became DeCou Lumber Co. and operated until 2012.  Joyce and Jerry were very active in the Lumber Merchants Association of California, Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, The Atascadero Rotary Club and the Atascadero Elks Club.  Joyce was an active member of the Zeta Chapter of Phi Epsilon Phi where she served as president in 1995-96.  She also was very involved in the Los Ninos Chapter of the Children’s Home Society of California where she served as president twice, in 1978-79 and 1984-85, as well as the General Chairman of the annual fundraising event.  In November 1981, the Los Ninos Nursery Rhyme Cookbook was produced to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the chapter and contains recipes from family and friends which are still used at holiday gatherings today.  

After the kids were grown, Joyce and Jerry traveled the world including China, Australia, the Bahamas, Europe and behind the Iron Curtain to the then Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia.  They were avid motor home buffs and traveled with friends to Alaska, Canada, Mexico and across the continental United States and also took many trips with the Elks Roadrunner’s Club.   One of the highlights of Joyce and Jerry’s life was the wonderful collection of friends, both locals and those that they met in professional and service organizations, as well as during their travels.  They always opened their home to friends and family and held many wonderful events poolside.  

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her parents, Dudley and Claire Elliott, brother Jerry, brother Pat, son-in-law Donald Walters and great granddaughter Mina Roccanova.  She is survived by her brother Terry (Georgianna), her sister-in-law Marilyn Elliott, her daughter Jeanine and her sons Jay (Babette), Jeff (Kathy) and John (Ladonna).

Joyce had 11 grandchildren Lynsey DeCou, Chris Walters, Joel DeCou (Gretchen), Robert DeCou (Jeena), Teressa Ludwig (Scott), Jenna DeCou (Paul Roccanova), Steven DeCou (Merial), Andrew DeCou (Paige), Katie DeCou (Austin Tompkins), Sara DeCou and Heather O’Farrell (Aaron).  She also had 13 great grandchildren Jacob DeCou, Barrett and Carson Ludwig, Jameson DeCou, Jackson and Patrick Tompkins, Jensen and Chloe DeCou, James DeCou, Chasen and Chance Baccigaluppi, and Shannon and Patrick O’Farrell.  “Aunt Joyce” is also survived by many Elliott and DeCou nieces and nephews.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, November 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at the Atascadero Elks Club.

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