In 2009, as part of the Isabella County sesquicentennial celebration, the Clarke Historical Library staff joined with other historical groups in Isabella County to create the John Cumming Isabella County Historical Preservation Award. The annual award was named in honor of retired Clarke Library director John Cumming, who led the library from 1961 to 1982. The award recognizes “an individual who has made exemplary contributions to preserving, recording, or disseminating the history of Isabella County.” Appropriately, John Cumming was the first recipient of the award.
At the annual Isabella County Founder’s Day celebration on Saturday, February 7, the 2015 Cumming Award was presented by Frank Boles to Joyce and Larry Noyes of Shepherd.
In 1978, Larry and Joyce became charter members of the Shepherd Area Historical Society. They became active members and both have held offices in the Historical Society. They are also both active in genealogy and are members and active in the Genealogical Society of Isabella County. As part of their commitment to genealogy, Larry has presented programs to various groups on how to do family history and serves as a delegate to the Michigan Genealogical Council. Joyce is presently Vice President of the Genealogical Society of Isabella County. Joyce is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. They both have assisted countless people with their family histories and have located lost relatives, families, and homesteads. Larry is a member of the website Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness, where he conducts court house and cemetery research requests for people for free.
Joyce and Larry have shared their knowledge of the community by leading countless tours for community members. Joyce’s specialty is the Little Red School House, where visitors often find her wearing period 1850s clothing and teaching lessons from that era. She has lent her expertise in this area to the Michigan One Room Schoolhouse Association, of which she has been a member. Larry’s specialty is the Shepherd Area Historical Society Power House tours. And when not leading tours of the school or the powerhouse, they have conducted cemetery tours, again often in period dress.
Larry and Joyce have assisted in the publication of several genealogical and historical related calendars and books. The couple has researched many historical sites and businesses. For example, at the request of the DAR they did research that led to the relocation of the historical marker noting the site of Isabella County’s first one-room schoolhouse. Larry & Joyce also assisted in acquiring historical information and pictures found in the historical murals which are now in the new Shepherd Branch of the Chippewa River District Library.
Joyce and Larry have lived all their lives in the Shepherd and Mt. Pleasant area. Larry is a Vietnam War veteran serving in the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1968. Joyce is a graduate of CMU and was a teacher in the Mt. Pleasant Schools for 31 years. She taught second through fifth grades at Ganiard and Pullen Elementary Schools where she is remembered as a compassionate teacher who cared deeply for the children and families that she worked with. They are both active members of St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church in Shepherd. Joyce has served on the St. Vincent DePaul School Board for the former Catholic School and other committees.
The Clarke Library staff is pleased to have played a part in recognizing the devoted work of Larry and Joyce in preserving and interpreting local history and genealogy.
