Joyce Ellen Shafer was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Marian Wester Shafer and Marshall Ward Shafer and a big sister on June 20, 1953. She died July 14, 2014 at Fairfield Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Crownsville, Md., after a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

From her earliest days she was a beautiful, friendly, very intelligent and happy child, who some said was vaccinated with a phonograph needle. It was also said she could spot a McDonald's sign from a mile away from the time she was 4.

After the birth of a younger brother, the family moved from Harundale to Severna Park. Among other changes, Joyce's musical talents became apparent, and she learned to play first the piano and then the flute. At Severna Park High School she was a flautist in the marching band and a straight-A student.

She left Maryland to attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) as a music major. In the latter part of her training at UNCG Joyce's magnificent singing voice was discovered. She was said to have the range of Metropolitan Opera star Maria Callas. Over the years since, she appeared in many musicals and light opera in the Baltimore and Annapolis area, and even toured parts of Europe performing with the University of Maryland Chorus in 1994.

After graduating with honors from UNCG, Joyce began teaching music on Maryland's Eastern Shore. She married school-days beau, Daniel Gordon Wilcox in 1977, and decided that teaching music in public schools was not a good fit for her. She joined the US Department of Defense (NSA) and began what would become a 35-year-long career, during which she earned 2 Master's degrees and many awards and certificates.

After her divorce from Dan Wilcox, Joyce met and became friendly with J. Richard Gummel, who also worked at the agency. They married in 1984. However, Joyce's greatest desire was to become a mother which eventually led to the adoption of an orphaned Russian boy she named, Joseph Marshall. Soon after, the marriage ended, and Joyce became a single mom. Then she was transferred to Orlando, Florida.

Joyce enjoyed her time in Florida, particularly her Season Passes to Disney World and EPCOT where she learned the best times to go and to attend most of their special events. Joey enjoyed school in Florida through the middle of the 5th grade when the agency called Joyce back to Maryland.. The move was hard on both of them, but Joyce continued her efforts to enable her son to get an education, and he graduated from a special Federal program at Southern High school (Anne Arundel County Schools) in 2012. This was a high point in Joyce's life. She also got back into singing with a large chorale and was thrilled be a part of their wonderful performances. All too soon her health began to deteriorate, and she began her final battles.

Joyce was pre-deceased by her parents, grandparents, one aunt, two uncles and her 12-year-old brother, Marshall Howard
Shafer. She is survived by her son, Joseph Marshall Gummel, of the home, her elder sister, Janice Elaine (Shafer) Doerner & husband John A. Sloop III, of Dripping Springs, TX., 8 beloved cousins, two aunts and one uncle, and 3 loving Chihuahuas, Pedro, Precious, and Peanut.

Visitation from 2-4 on Sunday, July 20, at Barranco Sons severna Park Funeral Home,P.A 495 Gov. Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, MD 21146. Graveside services to be held Monday, at 10 AM, at St. John's Lutheran Church Cemetery located at 6004 Waterloo Road, Columbia, Maryland. Family flowers are being provided by Benfield Florist Ltd, 569 Benfield Rd., Severna Park, 410 544-6020.

Joyce loved her son, dogs, music and flowers, and had many, many wonderful friends. She would want to extend her gratitude to those many friends who helped her and Joey get through the battle which ended her life, and to the caring personnel at Fairfield, especially Kendall, who cared for her on her final morning.

If you wish to make a contribution in her memory, designation to The Anne Arundel County SPCA, or other animal charity or rescue group of your choice would delight her.