Joan Ellen Boyle

Joan Ellen Hipps Boyle

Joan Ellen Hipps Boyle passed away at her home in Gilbert, Arizona, on Sunday, April 23, 2023, surrounded by her husband and children. She had been a valiant warrior in a battle with cancer. In 1998 there was fear with her first diagnosis that she was prone to breast cancer, and she turned to the Lord for strength. Her greatest desire was to serve the Lord. With faith she and Garry served for 23 months in the South American South Area Mission, living in Argentina from 2013 to 2015. Soon after returning home, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She suffered through chemo, surgery and radiation for nearly a year, and her cancer went in remission.  Then they served a six-month mission in the Madrid, Spain Temple in 2017. After their return from Spain, the cancer reared its ugly head again. This time without fear, Joan knew the Lord was in charge and she was ready for whatever timing He had in store. She suffered through more series of chemo with good days, bad days and worse days. She was ready to be called home, and she lived each day focused on her Savior.

Joan was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky October 30, 1950 to Fannie Delores Hannawalt and Olin Dewitt Hipps. Her mother had two boys from her first husband, John who died in China during WWII, then she married Olin. Joan was the fifth child of eight children—six brothers and one sister. In the first 15 years of Joan’s life, the family had 13 different addresses in Kentucky, North Carolina, Arizona and California. Arizona had several different stops between all the moves.

When Joan was 5 years old, her family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints while they lived in Eagar, Arizona. Wonderful neighbors, one of whom gave Joan’s mother a Book of Mormon, made powerful impressions upon the family.

Joan’s Dad was a coach, and with four older brothers who were athletic, Joan became quite an athlete herself.  In her youth she swam on an elite competitive team and competed in many other sports including diving, golf and tennis. Delores and Olin divorced when Joan was 13. Through those growing up years, Joan’s testimony is what fueled her life! After graduating from Westwood High School in Mesa, Arizona, in 1968, she attended Mesa Community College and Brigham Young University. She served an 18-month mission for the Church in Montana, Wyoming and Idaho from 1973-1974.

When Joan was about 6 years old, her family became neighbors to Garry Boyle’s family for a short time in Maricopa, Arizona. Garry was about the same age. After many moves and before Joan left on her mission, she met Garry at an Arizona State University Institute event and they went on one date. Garry used the creative “pick up” line, “Let’s go out for old time’s sake.” When she returned from her mission, and in the exact same place, he used the exact same “pick up” line and it worked. Joan knew on that date that Garry was the ONE! They were married in the Mesa Arizona Temple on June 3, 1975. Their married life led them to California where Katherine was born, Texas where Jared and Nathan were born and back to Arizona where Tim, Seth and Megan were born. After 18 different addresses in her life, Garry and Joan built a house on Maplewood Street in Gilbert, where they have been since 1982.

Joan has served in various leadership positions in the Church letting her light shine wherever she was planted—Young Women, Primary, Relief Society, Family History, LDS Family Services and Temple and Missionary work

With the gospel light she had the innate gift to see others as the Lord sees them, reaching to lift others to new heights. She was always cheerful, full of life and going the extra mile. Joan knew how to work!  Most of all she knew what mattered most, putting her relationship with God above all else. Her Faith and her Family were her top priorities! And that’s the way she lived everyday life.

Joan is survived by her devoted husband Garry H. Boyle and six children:

Katherine Ann (Rian) Burns  and 4 children of Gilbert, Arizona

Jared Wayne Boyle (Luana Paiva) of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Nathan Sean Boyle (Randi) and 4 children of Kansas City, Missouri

Timothy Brian Boyle (Jenny) and 5 children of Maple Valley, Washington

Justin Seth Boyle (Julie) and 5 children of Highland, Utah

Megan Denise Boyle (Quinn) of South Salt Lake City, Utah

She is survived by six siblings:

Jeffery Lee Krummenacher (Lola) of St. George, Utah

Steve Alan Krummenacher (Glenna) of Mesa, Arizona

Robert “Bob” Charles Hipps (Kristine) of Queen Creek, Arizona

Jean Margret Bounforte (Richard)  of Salt Lake City, Utah

Jim Olin Hipps (Holly) of Queen Creek, Arizona

John Dee Hipps (Cindy)  of Valley Mills, Texas

Joan is preceded in death by her parents and a brother, William “Bill” Joseph Hipps (Yupha) of Tempe, Arizona