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Portrait of Joyce Arlene (Ferguson) Cockburn
In loving memory

Joyce Arlene (Ferguson) Cockburn

September 10, 1942 – April 10, 2024
Lived 81 years
Visalia Cemetery · Visalia, California
Life story

Mrs. Joyce Arlene Cockburn was born September 10, 1941, and went to be with Jesus peacefully in her sleep on April 10, 2024. She was 82 years of age.

Joyce is survived by her loving husband, Dennis Allen Cockburn, their children, Rhonda Denise Barney (and husband Donnie Barney), Christopher Allen Coburn, and Timothy Patrick Cockburn. Joyce was also the loving grandmother of 7 grandchildren: Michael Joel Navarrete, Nathan Scott Navarrete, Nikolas Andrew Barney, Cody Wyatt Barney, Cameron Patrick Coburn, Chase Riley Coburn, and Ella Jane Coburn.

Joyce is also survived by her youngest sister, Delphine Rubly of Long Beach California, and is predeceased by her parents Everett James Ferguson and Ada Ruth Ferguson, as well as five other siblings, Wanda Keeling, Dwayne Ferguson, Eugene Ferguson, Herbert Ferguson, and Albert Ferguson.

Joyce was a graduate of Exeter Union High School class of 1960. She married her husband of 63 years, Dennis Cockburn on October 9, 1960.

Joyce worked at Jostens Yearbook company, then she worked at the Tulare Co Courthouse in Visalia, and then worked for 30 years at the Dept of Motor Vehicles in Visalia; ending her career as the manager of the Visalia office before she retired.

Joyce and Dennis were lifelong members of the Church of the Nazarene, attending the Exeter church for many years, and later moving to the Visalia Church of the Nazarene for the remainder of her life.

Joyce was a devoted Christian who loved her Lord Jesus and committed herself not only in service to the church, but also care taking many ill or elderly family members or others in need. She had a way of quietly showing up for people. And she always followed through to help for as long as they needed her.

Joyce also loved to sing, and she often sang solo or lead congregational hymns at the Exeter church, and sometimes in Visalia as well.

She was truly a blessing to everyone around her and will be sorely missed

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The world Joyce knew

Family milestones in gold, history for context

1942
Born September 10
1945
Joyce was 3 when World War II ended
1955
Joyce was 13 when the Salk polio vaccine was declared safe and effective
1967
Joyce was 25 when the first Super Bowl was played
1977
Joyce was 35 when Star Wars opened in theaters
1982
Joyce was 40 when "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" opened in theaters
1991
Joyce was 49 when the Soviet Union dissolved
2005
Joyce was 63 when the first video was posted to YouTube
2017
Joyce was 75 when "Fortnite" became a video game phenomenon
2022
Joyce was 80 when Queen Elizabeth II died after 70 years on the throne
2024
Passed away April 10, age 81
Tributes and memories

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Rhonda Barney 6w

Happy Birthday Momma

Thinking fondly of my mom who just had her 84th birthday in heaven a few days ago. 😊 When I was a young mother & struggling with  a very difficult marriage, I worried about money constantly. I hid my problems from my parents & acted like everything was great. 🙄 I was ashamed of the situation I found myself in and I didn't ask for help. Looking back now, I'm pretty sure mom knew what was going on, but she never mentioned it.  Instead, she was very sneaky. 😆 She would swipe my bills when she visited, and later I would mysteriously find them around the house with a paid receipt attached. 🤣 And I was always finding cash in my purse after I'd been with her too! She never made a big fuss out of all the loving things she did for me, but it was always a wonderful surprise, and I was so very grateful for her thoughtfulness.  So happy birthday to my sneaky little angel momma, always there when I need her. I love you mom. 🥰💕💕 Rhonda- 9/16/26

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Rhonda Barney 56w

Visit on 9/28/25

Dennis & Rhonda brought mom some flowers and installed the Turning Points medallion today. It was a nice day. Love you momma! 😊

Photo shared by Rhonda  Barney
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Visalia Cemetery
Visalia, California
Plot: T4-305
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