a sweet demeanor
selfless way, giving, caring
soft-spoken nature

Joyce Elizabeth Peterson was a rare gem on this Earth.

I only know that from reading her obituary.

And I only happened on to her obituary because I thinking about Duluth, Minnesota.

I only happened be thinking about Duluth, Minnesota because of where I live.

When the railroad came through here in the 1880’s folks said, ‘What is the furthest you can go on this railroad.?

And the answer was Duluth, Minnesota.

So the town where I now live was named, Duluth, Georgia.

And I was thinking about Duluth, Minnesota.

And wondered who lived up there or at least who had been living up there.

And I checked the obituaries in the local paper.

And I found Joyce Elizabeth Peterson.

The first line of her obit might be considered a life goal for any person any time any where.

Her sweet demeanor, soft-spoken nature, and selfless way of giving and caring for others made Joyce a rare gem on this Earth.

It certainly stands out today.

And maybe the fact that she stands out, she was a rare gem, is as sad a comment on us today as the fact that for us, Joyce Elizabeth Peterson has passed on.

Here is here obit.

Joyce Elizabeth Peterson

Her sweet demeanor, soft-spoken nature, and selfless way of giving and caring for others made Joyce a rare gem on this Earth. She will be greatly missed by her family and lifelong friends.

Joyce Elizabeth Peterson, 95, lifelong resident of Duluth, passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 17, 2020 at Barnes Care assisted living in Esko, MN.

Joyce was born in Duluth on June 26, 1925 to Wallace and Elizabeth Clemens. She graduated from Duluth Central High School and technical college. She married Gordon R. Peterson and they were married for 45 years. She was a hardworking Homemaker, raising their daughters and maintaining their home. She loved to knit and spend time at the cabin on Caribou Lake. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and active in the church circles and bible study groups.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother, William.

Joyce is survived by her children, Debra (Ron) Brochu and Cynthia (Terry) Cossin; grandchildren, Derek and Jessica Brochu; great-grandson she adored, “DJ”; special nephew, Richard Ouellette; nephews, Tom (Carol) Ouellette and Lewis Wackler; and niece, Barbara Gwynn.

The family would like to thank the staff at Barnes Care in Esko for her great care during the last 16 months.

Due to Covid-19, a memorial service will be held at a later date, hopefully sometime in the fall. Interment will be next to her husband at Sunrise Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 1108 E. 8th St. in Duluth, MN 55805.

A need of silence
and of stars. Too much is said
too loud. I am dazed.

Adapted from the poetry of William Alexander Percy.

According to Wikipedia, William Alexander Percy (May 14, 1885 – January 21, 1942), was a lawyer, planter, and poet from Greenville, Mississippi. His autobiography Lanterns on the Levee (Knopf 1941) became a bestseller. His father LeRoy Percy was the last United States Senator from Mississippi elected by the legislature.

Mr. Percy had a lot more issues and foibles that could be collected and covered in the average wikipedia article.

He could also write about minds that gain all knowledge but no calm.

Where to put Mr. Percy and his work?

For me I will just read his work and hope for the best I guess.

Just another of the authors you run into when you move south.

Here is the complete poem, “Home” from the collection titled, “In New York.”

I have a need of silence and of stars;
Too much is said too loudly; I am dazed.
The silken sound of whirled infinity
Is lost in voices shouting to be heard.
I once knew men as earnest and less shrill.
An undermeaning that I caught I miss
Among these ears that hear all sounds save silence,
These eyes that see so much but not the sky,
These minds that gain all knowledge but no calm.

If suddenly the desperate music ceased,
Could they return to life? or would they stand
In dancers’ attitudes, puzzled, polite,
And striking vaguely hand on tired hand
For an encore, to fill the ghastly pause?

I do not know. Some rhythm there may be
I cannot hear. But I oh, I must go
Back where the breakers of deep sunlight roll
Across flat fields that love and touch the sky;
Back to the more of earth, the less of man,
Where there is still a plain simplicity,
And friendship, poor in everything but love,
And faith, unwise, unquestioned, but a star.

Soon now the peace of summer will be there
With cloudy fire of myrtles in full bloom;
And, when the marvelous wide evenings come,
Across the molten river one can see
The misty willow-green of Arcady.

And then the summer stars … I will go home.