Joyce Anne Parkhurst (née Reese) was born on October 24, 1935, in Long Beach, California. Joyce married James on January 30, 1955, and they had five children: Jim, Jeff, Jennifer, Jocelyn, and Jill.

Parkhurst attended one and a half years of college and one and a half years of nursing school.

Parkhurst was employed as a nurse for 14 years.