Joyce Ellen (Backus) Kohout, 94, long-time resident of Marion, MA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Beloved wife of the late Paul Smith Kohout. Born March 13, 1933 in New Bedford, MA. Beloved daughter of the late Clyde and Laura (Milam) Backus. Joyce is survived by her son Paul Scott and his wife Joy (Derouchie) Kohout of Acton, MA and her son-in-law Stephen Hoksch of Pottstown, PA. She is further survived by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Shawna (Kohout) Paro and her husband Michael Paro and their sons Noah Paro and Finn Paro, James Kohout, his partner Kerry McKeon and his son Jack Kohout, Melissa Hoksch, and Ethan Hoksch and his wife Morgan Nash.
After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College, she received her Masters at the Middlebury School of Spanish in Spain. She taught Spanish Language and Literature at St. Lawrence University and secondary English and Spanish in Fort Covington and Malone, New York.
Mrs. Kohout was very active in the sport of ice hockey, attending the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY, 1984 in Sarajevo and 1988 in Calgary, Canada. For several years she was the secretary-treasurer of the New York State Amateur Hockey Association. She was very active at St. Gabriel’s Church in Marion, MA and as a recruiter for Smith College. Mrs. Kohout loved the ocean, gardening, reading and puzzles.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Paul; and their daughter, Connie Ellen Hoksch.
A private family service will be held in the Spring of 2026. Interment at Elmwood Cemetery, Fort Covington, New York. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6) Mattapoisett.
Remembrances may be made to Saint Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, 124 Front Street, Marion, MA 02738 or Doctors Without Borders, 40 Rector Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10006.
