Joyce Mardel

Joyce Marie (Hoptowit) Mardel “Wats-wi-po” 07/15/1941 – 08/26/2024 Joyce was born in Yakima, WA to Anthony Hoptowit and Lillian Kanine Hoptowit on July 15, 1941. Joyce was an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Walla Walla band, her great grandfather was Chief Jim Kanine, she was also of Yakama descent. Joyce attended several schools growing up as her parents fished on the Columbia River in their family sites and moved when it was fishing season, she attended schools in Spearfish, Weston McEwen, and graduated from Pendleton High School. Joyce’s family has long been involved in Indian Beauty Pageants, her grandmother Rosaline Wilson Kanine Tashwick, won the American Indian Beauty Contest as well as Happy Canyon Princess, her mother Lillian Kanine Hoptowit won the American Indian Beauty Contest and held the Happy Canyon Princess title. Joyce following her family tradition winning the American Indian Beauty Contest in 1957 and was a Happy Canyon Princess in 1958. Joyce’s sisters Belva and Sharon were also American Indian Beauty Contest winners and Sharon a Happy Canyon Princess, and many more family members and following generations have participated and won the pageants. After high school, Joyce moved to California to live with her sister, Belva and ended up meeting her future husband, Ron Mardel. Both Ron and Joyce worked in the photography industry taking professional pictures, developing and processing for Kodak contracted companies. Ron and Joyce had three children, Redfern, Rosebud, and Radcliff – they moved from California to the Wapato area in 1977 to be closer to Joyce’s family as family was always very important to both. Joyce was employed by the Yakama Nation as a Tribal Court Clerk, and eventually with the Maternal Child Health Program, in both places she made an immediate impact with clients and coworkers with her kind and compassionate personality, she met some wonderful lifelong friends. Ron and Joyce eventually opened their family print shop and were known for their excellent, professional and quick turn around time for all the local sports tournaments, pow wows, and rodeo programs, raffle tickets, and posters – it was a different time back then when everything was done by hand and machines including graphics and not on computers. This was a fantastic and memorable time with some great memories of our family being able to work together for many years. Joyce found great joy in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, always having a smile and tickle for them, she had a special bond with Disney, Dayton and Kylo who always brightened her days and brought a huge smile to her face. Joyce enjoyed attending and cheering on the many sporting events from basketball, volleyball, football, and softball over the many years for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Joyce last attended basketball tournaments in March in Spokane (Disney) and in April in Warm Springs (Rosebud Jr.), always enjoying watching and being in the basketball atmosphere (and yes, occasionally, she did not agree with the refs but did not say anything except to us)! Joyce is survived by her daughter, Rosebud (Bernie) Guthrie, son Radcliff (Theresa) Mardel, adopted daughter Karen (Scott) Schwartz, daughter-in-law Bernadine Mardel - grandchildren: Rondelle (JD), Rosebud (Alix), Raveign (Christian), Latonia, Garrick (Tanara), Jacob (Lakoma), Jocelyn, Nathaniel, Michael, Chase, Makayla - great grandchildren: Disney, Dayton, Kylo, Leia, Zeriah & Allister - Siblings: Tony Hoptowit, Elaine Hoptowit, Valerie Juan, Kathy Batin, Debbie (Eric) Lewis, James Hoptowit, & John (Vera) Hoptowit and many nieces and nephews. Joyce is predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Ron Mardel, her son Redfern Mardel, her parents Anthony & Lillian Hoptowit, and her sisters: Shirley Iman, Belva Hoptowit, Faith Kahclamat, Sharon John & Lydia Hoptowit. There will be a memorial dinner honoring Joyce on October 6th at 2:00pm at the Mt. Adams Center in Zillah (512 Second Avenue) please bring your smiles and/or memories and share some time honoring Joyce with us.

Joyce Mardel

July 15, 1941 - August 26, 2024

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Joyce Mardel

July 15, 1941 - August 26, 2024

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