Celebration of the Life of Joyce Kidd 1920-2012

Joyce Kidd died on Sunday 18th March 2012 at age 92. She declared that she had taken care of everything she was born to do, that she was ready to go and was happily looking forward to heaven. At a nursing home she left us in calmness and peace.

The funeral will take place on Tuesday 27 March at the place she requested: Oakworth Crematorium in England. She asked for "a cheerful ceremony without fuss and no tears, and a little tea party afterwards".

Born Joyce Binns on Feb 27, 1920 in Oakworth, West Yorkshire, England, daughter of Arthur Binns, primary school head teacher, and his wife Alice Maude Annie Ingham.

She married Fred Kidd, scientist, on Aug 22, 1942 during their wartime service at Munitions Factory number 6 in Cheshire. Their son John was born in 1944 and David in 1945. Come peacetime her husband worked in research of fibers and in 1962 they moved to Scotland when he  he completed his PhD and became professor of chemistry at the Scottish College of Textiles, and later Deputy Head. Their sons left for higher education while Joyce and Fred integrated with local society.

On retirement they moved back to their roots in West Yorkshire and became active in local life with the Civic Society. Both were active Rotarians and Joyce became the District Chairman of Inner Wheel. She became widowed in 2000 but insisted on staying self-sufficient in her own home until she was 91.

She lived a fulfilling and good life and was always interesting and inspirational, ready to see the bright side of life. Many say it was a privilege to know her and express thanks for the good things she brought into their lives: generosity and thoughtfulness, cheerfulness and fun at gatherings, and the way she thought and cared about all they did.

She acted in amateur dramatics, enjoying particularly playing Aunt Ella in the musical "Oklahoma". She sang contralto, often solo, and shared the playing of the organ at Lees Methodist church. She requested that donations be made to her church in lieu of floral tributes.

She is survived by her sons: Tony and David Kidd; five grandchildren: Jeremy, Amanda, Frances, Toby and Victoria Kidd; and her great-granddaughter Isadora Kidd.