Last Sunday, I attended what was called a “Non-Memorial Memorial” for a renowned, but perhaps, underpublicized Sanpete girl. Joyce Eliason was born in Manti in 1934. She passed away in Los Angeles last year.

Her cremated remains were interred in the Manti Cemetery on Sunday. People gathered from far and wide in honor of Joyce. Friends and relations, including Hollywood people were in attendance. I believe that four of her classmates, pushing 90 years old, were there.

At the cemetery, Joyce’s brother John, a “Manti guy,” thanked those in attendance for being there. After mentioning that people had traveled from Japan, California, New Mexico, and other distant places, he quipped that there were even people in attendance from Ephraim.

It was a calm, sunny and warm day (finally). (It was June 25th and I thought to myself, in six months it will be Christmas.) There were kind words spoken. There was poetry. There were song sheets passed out. And a guitar was played.

We were all invited to sing Bob Dylan’s song “Forever Young.”

Here’s one of the verses: “May you grow up to be righteous, May you grow up to be true, May you always know the truth, And see the light surrounding you, May you always be courageous, Stand upright and be strong, May you stay forever young, May you stay forever young” (written for Dylan’s oldest son — recorded in 1973 – great song – look up the full lyrics, if you’re not familiar with it)

The memorial group moved on from the cemetery in Manti to the Wild Acres event center in Ephraim (reversing the “longgg” 7-mile journey that some had already traveled as earlier mentioned). It was my first visit to Wild Acres Barn. It’s a really nice venue for weddings, parties, and gatherings. A tasty luncheon was catered by Das Cafe.

Joyce Eliason was in the Hollywood entertainment business. She was a four-time nominee for an Emmy. She was mainly a screenwriter and producer.

Joyce was involved with many projects in her long career in Hollywood. I visited Sunday with Larry Sanitsky, a multiple Emmy nominated producer with many credits. (I did some research) He shared with me that Joyce through all the years remained drawn to her Utah roots. There are many TV movies and mini-series shows which were written and/or produced by Joyce. And some were filmed in Utah.

Joyce was involved with writing the 1980 film “Tell Me a Riddle.” That movie has the distinction of being the first American feature film to be written, produced and directed — all by women.

Additional accomplishments: she wrote two books, was the mother of two daughters and had four grandchildren. She had a long and successful career. And to think, that she started out right here in little ol’ Sanpete.

At the luncheon, those in attendance were offered keepsakes. Copies of one of her books, tote bags with “Joyce quotes” imprinted on them, personalized candles, cookies, and photo album books were available.

The tote bag I picked up to put my “goodies” in had the quote that is the title of this piece: “What’s the Use of Living?” – Joyce

For all her accomplishments, Joyce evidently was known to ask that question. On the occasions that I spent a little time with her, that question never came up. We never got that “deep.”

Interestingly though, I did get into that conversation with Joyce’s mother, Ada Eliason, before she passed away in 1996 at age 87 (the same age that Joyce got to). It was quite a long conversation with us exchanging opinions and speculations on “the purpose of life.” (What’s the Use of Living?)

I tried to be optimistic about life and that there are, indeed, purposes. She agreed with some of my views, but thought that some of my “afterlife purposes” sounded like it might be a lot of work. But, nevertheless, she said that she hoped I was right with much of what I was “selling.”

I get the feeling and believe that Joyce and her mom (and me, for that matter) would agree with and/or be entertained by the following quotes:

“I don’t entirely approve of some of the things I have done, or am, or have been. But I’m me. God knows, I’m me.” (Elizabeth Taylor)

The first part of the following quotation is essentially Joyce’s quote that is on my newly acquired tote bag: “What is the use of living, if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone? How else can we put ourselves in harmonious relation with the great verities and consolations of the infinite and the eternal? (Winston Churchill)

I think my “friend” Winston could take advice from one of my favorite quotes: “Don’t use a big word when a singularly unloquacious and diminutive linguistic expression will satisfactorily accomplish the contemporary necessity.” (Unknown) I think that Joyce, as a writer, would enjoy that one.

A couple more to finish:

“Dogs teach us a lot of things, but none more important than to love unconditionally.” (Unknown) (Dogs were mentioned on Sunday)

“I have been incredibly lucky. Not great, but good enough. And somehow bad decisions turned out to be good – and some good decisions turned out to be bad. It’s a crap shoot. Hey, death isn’t a mystery. The real mystery is life.” (Joyce Eliason) — Merrill

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