Joyce Doty passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 15, 2022, on Kauai, Hawaii. She died of natural causes, having lived a long and healthy life of nearly 94 years. She was born to Henry Louis Halverson and Dorothy Hamill Halverson on September 26, 1928, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Vernon Doty, her parents, her sisters Ruth Elizabeth Halverson and Judith Chase Halverson Sheldon, and her brother David Henry Halverson.
Besides being raised in Minnesota, Joyce also grew up in Texas and Arkansas. After high school, she moved to New Mexico, spending a short time there. Joyce married Newton William Lewis in 1948, in Silver City, New Mexico, but they divorced soon afterwards.
On April 18, 1951, Joyce married Charles Monroe "Sparky" Schulz. Together they raised five children, beginning their family life in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In the summer of 1958, they moved to Sebastopol, California, where they enjoyed raising their kids on 28 acres that they called the Coffee Grounds. The property had a few homes on it, but it was mostly covered in trees. Because of Joyce's intense desire and natural ability to create, the property soon became filled with a recreation room known as the kiosk, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a flower garden, horse barns, a playground, a four-hole golf course, a studio for her husband's work, a baseball field, and even a miniature golf course built on the foundation of a home that had burned to the ground in 1966. Joyce and Sparky enjoyed many years of spending time with friends and family. Their children created treasured memories with each other and their friends who came over to enjoy long summer days at the Coffee Grounds.
In 1969, Joyce and Sparky built the Redwood Empire Ice Arena for the community in Santa Rosa, California, with Ed Doty as their contractor. When Joyce chooses a project, she puts her all into it; therefore, it is no exaggeration to say that she accomplished her goal of building "the world's most beautiful ice arena." The ice arena was and is much more than a building to ice skate in; it has become a home-away-from-home to thousands of skaters and employees alike. Anyone and everyone feels welcome each time they enter the unique and beautiful building. Memories are created and cherished, and the credit goes to Joyce. At the grand opening, in May of 1969, Joyce said, "I love this building, and I hope you will, too." The passage of time has proven that the ice arena has indeed been loved by many.
In 1972, Joyce and Sparky moved their family to Healdsburg, California, but divorced the following year.
On August 8, 1973, Joyce married Edwin Vernon Doty, starting their life together in Healdsburg. They used Ed's skills as a contractor to remodel the existing home and create new buildings on a 1,000-acre ranch. They also delved into an adventure of raising mules. More memories were created as friends and family gathered to ride horses and motorcycles, lounge by the pool, and play in the small lake near the house. Joyce had a way of creating "space" where everyone wanted to be.
In 1980, Joyce and Ed decided to make a big change in their lives by planning a move across the ocean to the gorgeous island of Kauai, Hawaii. Combining their skills of contractor and creative genius, they designed and had a house built above Rock Quarry beach in Kilauea. In 1982, they moved in just before Hurricane Iwa hit Kauai, and although their house was spared, they had to endure the months-long lack of electricity and other infrastructure problems that the hurricane caused.
Once life was back to normal, in "Joyce" fashion, they spent the next 40 years creating what would become the beautiful 240-acre not-for-profit Na 'Aina Kai Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park/Kilohana Farms and Hardwood Plantation. Over the years, thousands of visitors have come to tour and admire the sculptures, gardens, and forests created by the Dotys. The gardens would also enhance the lives of the staff, grounds crew, and volunteers; many years of memories were created and shared in these beautiful gardens. An idea had come to fruition, and now, a legacy will continue, all in the names of Joyce and Ed Doty.
Joyce is survived by her five children: Meredith Sue Schulz Hodges (CO), Charles Monroe "Monte" Schulz Jr. (CA and HI), Craig Fredrick (Judy) Schulz (CA), Amy Louise Schulz (John) Johnson (UT), and Jill Marie Schulz (CA); 16 grandchildren: Dena Marie Hodges, Wesley Charles Monroe Schulz, John Henry Edward Schulz, Bryan Donald (Chelsi) Schulz, Lindsey Ann (George) Schulz-Peaslee, Stephanie Anne (Adam) Revelli, Brian Schulz (Victoria) Johnson, Charles Alan Johnson, Melissa Amy Johnson (Kurtis) Redmond, Emily Catherine (Ian) Beaty, Marci Dena (Collin) Gerratt, Michael Carl (Cambri) Johnson, Heidi Lyn Johnson, Daniel Monroe Johnson, Kylie Marie Transki, and Tyler David Transki; 13 great-grandchildren: Asha Leigh Hodges, Alexis Aallyah Hodges, Gideon Donald Schulz, Hayley Addison Schulz, Micah Adam Revelli, Savannah June Revelli, Leah Faith Revelli, Kirill Stoyanov Johnson, David Andrew Beaty, Alyssa Nicole Gerratt, Cameron Rex Gerratt, Luke Alan Johnson, and Olive Elizabeth Johnson.
A private memorial service was held for Joyce on June 6, 2022,
at Na 'Aina Kai Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park
on the island of Kauai.
Another celebration of her life will be held next summer at the
Redwood Empire Ice Arena, in Santa Rosa, California.
