Carol Briggs Joy was the granddaughter of Hannah and Clarence Pearson, long time residents in the Clark, Wyoming area. The Pearsons moved to Clark from Nebraska in 1911. Mr. Pearson, a teacher, was in ill health which precipitated the move. The extended Pearson family had strong ties to the Lincoln area, and many of the family graduated from the University of Nebraska

Hannah and Clarence Pearson settled on a portion of the Sirrine Ranch near Clark, and were active in the Clark community. Hannah served as the Dean of Women at the University of Wyoming during one summer. They had two children, Edward and Dorothy. Their son Edward attended the Pioneer School in Clark, and graduated from Cody High School in 1921. He enrolled at the University of Wyoming and received his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering in 1925. Edward passed away in 1984 in Oceanside, California

Daughter Dorothy graduated with honors from the Secondary Training School at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Four years later she married Thomas Henry Briggs in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Dorothy and her first husband, Thomas Henry Briggs, IV, had two children, Carol Marie and Thomas Henry Briggs, V. Mrs. Briggs second marriage was to Harold Williams. Dorothy Pearson Briggs Williams was a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution