JOYCE TURNER SARGENT

MIDDLEBURY — Joyce Turner Sargent, 88, of Middlebury, passed away with strength and peace on Monday, March 10, 2025. Joyce was born in Middlebury, Vt., on January 4, 1937, to Leon and Pauline (Baker) Turner. Joyce was the fourth child of six children.

Joyce married and divorced Charles Sargent of Bristol with whom she had two children, Charles “Bill” and Susan.

Graduating from Middlebury High School in 1954, Joyce had many jobs during high school and after graduation. She worked at Cartmell’s, Foster Motors, the A&W, and on the family farm. Joyce was a trailblazer. She had a long career and became one of the first female supervisors at the Standard Register Company in Middlebury, where she worked for over thirty years.

As a young girl, Joyce loved horseback riding. One of her “wild rides” occurred when a stallion got loose and chased the mare she was riding for some miles, an event featured in the book, “Vermont Diary” by Viola C. White. Admittedly spoiled by her grandparents, aunts and uncles as a child, Joyce also helped in the sugar woods, gathering sap with her yoke and peanut butter collecting cans, did a lot of babysitting, and helped her mother do laundry for Navy men who were students at Middlebury College. As an adult, she enjoyed playing in a candlepin bowling league and being a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, where she worked Bingo games.

Joyce was a lifelong, active and faithful member of the United Methodist Church of Middlebury — a driving force for its rummage sales for many, many years. Joyce loved to take her friends and family on car rides, touring Vermont’s backroads, aiming to find and explore as many new roads as possible — even if it meant driving through a farmer’s field. One of her favorite traditions was visiting the Nubble Lighthouse in York, Maine, every year with her family — and she has cherished photos of the Nubble with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Nothing was more important than her love for and involvement with her family. She loved watching their sporting events and attending every concert, play, recital, and school event. Everyone always knew when Joyce was in attendance, when she’d let out her own special “hoot” to cheer on her loved ones. Joyce always looked forward to visiting new places on trips through work, with the New Horizons Club, or exploring with friends, making it to nearly every state throughout the U.S. She loved camping with her family and friends, most frequently visiting Vermont State Parks, River’s Bend, and the Maine coast. After retirement, most mornings you could find Joyce holding court over coffee at Steve’s Park Diner with an array of family and friends. Later, Joyce liked planning community dinners and putting together puzzles with her friends at The Meadows.

Joyce is survived by her brother, Richard “Dick” Turner, and sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Laframboise and her husband, Raymond. Joyce is also survived by her children: Bill Sargent and his wife, Tiffany; her daughter, Sue Leggett, and her husband, David “Crocky;” and her stepdaughter, Gail Burrows and her husband, Robert. Gram, Nie, Grandma Joyce, Granny and Jo Jo were names fondly used by her grandchildren, including Casey and Marc McDonough, Heath Leggett, Hallett “Hallie” Sargent, Asa and Allie Sargent, Terri and Matt Chase, Heather and Bob Ramm, Robert “Marty” Burrows, and Hillary Burrows and Chris Chase; and her 10 great-grands: Emmett, Ethan, Abby, Sam, Isabel, Declan, Henry, Bria, Ben, and Noelle. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Barb Martell, and brothers-in-law, Stanley and Leslie “Junior” Sargent, as well as many nieces and nephews. One of her great joys was the closeness of our extended family blending with Bob and Janet Leggett’s family — so many treasured and special memories of one great, big, incredibly loving family!

Joyce was predeceased by her ex-husband, Charles Sargent; her partner, Neil Martin; and her siblings, Alice Turner, Leon “Bob” Turner, and Ruth (Turner) Dow.

Joyce’s funeral will be held at the Middlebury United Methodist Church on Friday, March 14, at 11 a.m., followed by a reception at the American Legion in Middlebury.  Please feel free to come to either or both. In lieu of flowers, Joyce would like donations to be sent to Addison County Home Health and Hospice at P. O. Box 754, Middlebury, VT 05753. The staff from Home Health & Hospice and the ARCH Room at Helen Porter provided great care and comfort to Joyce and her family. ◊