Joyce Marion (Hitt) Butchart

Joyce Marion Butchart, 89, beloved daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2025 at Harbor House in Poulsbo Washington. Born the daughter of Richard Boyd and Blanch Camillia Hitt in Seattle, Washington March 19, 1935, she grew up near Green Lake and attended Roosevelt High School. Her two biggest passions were figure skating and singing. She attended Central Washington College to study music in Ellensburg, and there met the love of her life, Stanley Vint Butchart Jr. They were married in Yakima on June 18, 1954. They moved around a few times before settling in west Seattle where they had 2 sons, Richard born 1955 and Larry born 1956. They eventually moved to Burien where they live for the next 62 years. Stan worked at Boeing, and Joyce worked at Sunnydale Elementary School as a playground monitor and eventually the administrative secretary.

The family enjoyed hiking, camping, downhill skiing, sailing and were very involved in Scouting. She loved the theatre, music events and cultural activities. She continued to ice skate and eventually earned her gold level in ice dancing. She became a figure skating trial judge travelling all over the western US and eventually as a national judge travelled all over the United States judging events. She was involved in choral groups and the Roosevelt High School “Golden Grads”. Joyce and Stan were very active and continued to square dance, ski, and camp in their motor home well into their 80’s. Small hiking trips and attending grand children’s music, sports and scouting events also filled their lives. She enjoyed time with her great-grandchildren over the last 16 years. Both she and her husband were very active on race committees for sailboat races at Corinthian Yacht Club.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley, who passed away in 2020 and is survived by her sister, Lorraine Fontaine Carter of Whidbey Island, her sons Richard William Butchart of Port Ludlow and Larry Paul Butchart of Auburn, as well as 5 grand children and 13 great grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Seattle at a future date to be announced and her ashes placed in Puget Sound at the same location as her husband.

In leu of flowers, please make donations to either the Roosevelt Golden Grads or the National Park Foundation, two of her favorite charities.