Joyce Laylee Parker, 54, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009. A family memorial service was held in Seattle on Dec. 27, 2009. In Homer a gathering and bonfire to remember Joyce is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010, at Bishop's Beach.

Joyce was born June 19, 1955, in Kabul, Afghanistan. She spent her first two years of life in Afghanistan before moving to Altadena, Calif., where she lived until she was 18 years old. After graduating from John Muir High School, she attended the University of Indiana to study music.

On July 4, 1977, Joyce arrived in Homer. She soon moved to Seldovia and later Bear Cove, where she lived and raised her family with Ordell Christianson until 1989.

Joyce was a musician with incredible skills in playing the violin and viola, as well as singing. She enjoyed many types of music, especially classical and jazz. She was a creative woodworker and seamstress. Joyce took long walks and was passionately observant of nature. She was an avid self educator.

Joyce is survived by her daughter, Ryjil Christianson of Homer; sons, Zefren and Selven Christianson of Homer; former partner Ordell Christianson; father, De Wilton Parker of St. George, Utah; sisters Christine Parker of Dusseldorf, Germany, Jeanne Parker of Homer and Elaine Moreen of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; and brothers Craig Parker-Feldman of Bremen, Germany, and Bruce Parker of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Joyce was preceded in death by her mother, Viola Parker.

"The family is sincerely grateful to the many people in Homer that reached out to Joyce over the years," her family said.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Homer, P.O. Box 4171, Homer, AK 99603; and South Peninsula Hospital, Home Health Department, 4300 Bartlett St., Homer, AK 99603.