Joyce May Bilbruck Kimball, 91, died at her home on July 22, 2022, following a period of declining health.

Born August 8, 1930, in Medford, Massachusetts, of Emily Bilbruck Hicks, Joyce was adopted by her maternal grandparents, Lucy and Lawrence Bilbruck, raised on Dennett Road in Kittery, Maine, and attended Kittery schools. She married Walter Kimball of Kittery Point in 1949, who Joyce met when she worked at the Kimball Convenience Store then on the corner of Cutts Island Lane and Brave Boat Harbor Road. Walter and Joyce made their home in Kittery Point where Joyce lived for almost 72 years.

Mention of her grandmother Lucy always brought a smile to Joyce's face. A picture of Lucy—who Joyce remembered raising chickens and many cats—was in a place of prominence in Joyce's sitting room. She described her childhood with her grandparents as happy and loving.

When Joyce was around 13, her grandparents died and she moved to Kittery Point with her birth mother, Emily Bilbruck Hicks Cochey, and Emily's second husband, Donald S. Cochey with whom Joyce had a close relationship for the rest of his life. Donald died in 1987 followed by Emily in 1988. Joyce lived in Kittery Point for the rest of her long life.

Joyce worked at Cap'n Simeon's Galley in Pepperrell Cove in Kittery Point for many years in the 1980s and 90s. She cleaned the restaurant in the morning before it opened and she helped make pies and quiche for the restaurant to serve that day. She never drove a car, and rode her bicycle to and from work.

Joyce loved animals—both wild and domestic—and adored each of her three Shetland sheepdogs, Princess, Lady and Madison as well as her cats Penny and Kitty. Later in her life when she started to experience some memory loss and dementia, she and her daughter could always rely on talking about her favorite topic of their pets.

Joyce was predeceased by her husband, Walter, in 2001; her son, Michael, in 2005; and her sister, Jacqueline Hicks Claxton of Tennessee in 2021.

She is survived by her beloved cat, Kitty, as well as her daughter, Cheryl Kimball, and her husband, Jack Savage of Middleton, NH; five grandchildren—Bradley Kimball of Exeter, NH; Lauren Kimball of Lebanon, ME; Lyndsey Kimball of Dover, NH; Patrick Kimball of Saco, ME; and Stephen Kimball of Somersworth, NH—as well as six great grandchildren.

Joyce's family would like to express their thanks to her devoted caregivers for the past few months, Jessica and Rachel, for all of their kindness.

A private burial will take place on August 4. A time of visitation is scheduled for August 24 from 5pm-7pm at J.S. Pelkey and Son Funeral Home in Kittery, Maine.

Donations in Joyce's memory may be made to the New Hampshire SPCA, 104 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, NH 03885.