Mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Gwendolyn Joy Fitt Cracroft, passed away September 7, 2012, after a two-and-a-half year battle with pancreatic cancer. She outlived her doctor's prediction by more than two years. She was and is a strong woman. Joy was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 30, 1925, to Zina May Gerstner Fitt and Clarence Harper Fitt. She had one younger sister, Gloria May Fitt Bell. She always enjoyed the opportunity to learn. She graduated from South High School, but due to the Depression, she was unable to attend college for a number of years. She took classes in psychology at the U of U during her children's teen years. While growing up, Joy had two special life-long friends, Helen Lee and Peggy Ann Staub, with whom she spent a great deal of enjoyable time. Peggy was Joy's partner in oration competitions during their junior high school years. Helen, the daughter of Harold B. Lee, the man who established the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Welfare Program and later became the President of the Church, had Joy spend a lot of time with her in her home where she was able to learn "proper entertaining, etiquette, and so forth" from Helen's mother, and President Lee called her "one of his girls." Betty Deleyser was another special friend whom Joy was close to for more than 50 years. They advised and strengthened each other through the births and rearing of their children, and they took classes together. One of Joy's greatest loves was music. She was an accomplished singer who studied with various teachers, the most notable of whom was Emma Lucy Gates Bowen, an internationally known opera singer and a native Utahn. Emma Lucy encouraged Joy to audition for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, but Joy decided to marry and have a family rather than pursue a musical career. Joy would perform for soldiers at the USO during the war, as well as for many civic and church functions for many years. She gradually lost her hearing, which caused her great distress because she couldn't hear the music anymore. Joy's longest lasting and most satisfying job was at Welfare Square where she worked as the administrative assistant to various coordinators for 27 years. She said of that time, "I cannot describe the wonderful experiences I had nor the learning I attained there." Joy met her future husband, Glen Edwin Cracroft, when she was nineteen years old while at a Church activity. Glen went into the Army during World War II. After he returned, they met again at a Church party. They were later married by President Harold B. Lee in the Salt Lake City Temple on June 14, 1946. Four children followed, Stephen Glen (Jill), Joy Ellen (Richard Mason), Michael John, and David Clair (Jazan). Glen passed away on November 6, 2008. Joy was always active in the LDS Church and served in many positions. Another activity that gave her great satisfaction was that she transcribed Patriarchal Blessings for Bishop Jesse M. Drury of the Temple View Stake for many years. She found it a great blessing and spiritually uplifting. Joy is survived by her four children, her sister, ten grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Joy's grandchildren and great grandchildren were the joy of her life and she bragged about them all the time. A viewing will be held on Friday September 14, 2012, from 6 to 8 pm, at Broomhead Funeral Home, 12600 South 2200 West. Funeral Services will be held at the Corner Canyon 4th Ward chapel, 13366 S. 1300 E., Draper, UT, on Saturday Sept 15, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. Viewing will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 before the service.