Obituary of Joyce S. Wight

Joyce S. Wight, 89, of Bemus Point, NY, passed away peacefully at 1:58 am Tuesday, August 18, 2020, in her home with her husband Don by her side. A lifelong area resident, she was born February 4, 1931, at home on the family farm in Bemus Point, NY, a daughter of the late Leslie H. and Marjorie Beightol Shepardson. She was a 1949 graduate of the former Bemus Point High School and attended Westminster College and the State University of New York at Delhi. In her earlier years she was a Secretary to Dr. William Foote Whyte in the Industrial and Labor Relations Department at Cornell University, worked as a receptionist at the former Jamestown General Hospital, and worked part-time at the Bemus Point Post Office. She and her husband operated The Wight House Bed and Breakfast in Bemus Point and also owned antique shops in Bemus Point and Stow leading her to participate in various antique shows throughout the area. In later years she was a Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. Joyce was a member of the Bemus Point United Methodist Church, the Bemus Point Historical Society and in previous years served on the Bemus Point Planning Board. She loved music and was an accomplished organist. She taught organ lessons at the Hammond Organ Studio in Jamestown and was the organist at the Bemus Point United Methodist Church for several years. She loved growing up and living around Chautauqua Lake where in 1949, at age 18, was the youngest accredited pilot on Chautauqua Lake. Surviving are her loving husband of 69 years, Donald A. Wight, whom she married February 10, 1951, her four children; Richard (Christine) Wight of Bemus Point, Robert (Peg) Wight of Cincinnati, OH, Wendy (James Gould) Johnson of the Finger Lakes, NY, Laurie (Kevin) Beaton of Bemus Point, 12 grandchildren; Tyler Beaton, Leslie Wasik, Molly Beaton, Riley Beaton, Brianna Lopez, Brian Robert Johnson, Vanessa Wight Curabba, Jamie Wight, Alan Wight, Kate Mattox, Susan Murphy, Phil Wight, 14 great grandchildren; Charlotte and Ozzy Curabba, Connor, Austin, Sydney, Juniper, Ryker, and Iris Wight, Everett, and Elsie, Mattox, Mac Murphy, Benjamin and Sophia Lopez and Cora Wasik. Also surviving is her brother, Richard (Patty) Shepardson of Albuquerque, NM. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters; Jeannette Arnold, Janice Galloway. Due to the current pandemic and travel restrictions, a celebration of life service for Joyce will be held at a later date. Inurnment will be in the Bemus Point Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Chautauqua County Hospice and Palliative Care, 20 West Fairmount Ave. Lakewood, NY, the Bemus Point Historical Society, P.O. Box 105, Bemus Point NY 14712 or to the Bemus Point United Methodist Church, 4954 Bemus-Ellery Rd. Bemus Point, NY 14712.