Joyce Smith

Joyce Elaine Foley Smith of Center Point, Texas passed away Saturday, October 17, at the age of 87. She was born December 2, 1927 in Pearson Switch, Oklahoma to Clarence O. Foley and Aileen Collier Foley. \r\n\r\nShe is survived by her husband of 67 years, Jeptha Thomas Smith; daughters, Jo Elaine and husband Pat Childers and Jan Steveson, all of Center Point, Texas. She is also survived by her grandson, Tommy Childers of Center Point; granddaughters, Jaime and husband, Michael Wyche of Austin, Texas, and Jana and husband John Mahoney of New Braunfels, Texas; great granddaughters, Kayla Wyman, Taylor Parker, and Payten Wyche; and great grandsons, Miles, Cole and Tucker Wyche, Davis and Carter Mahoney, and Spenser Doss. She also has one great great granddaughter, Kendall Wyman. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Robert Foley; sisters, Eunice Hamon, Dorothy June Irwin, Carol Hensley, and Joan Sutton.\r\n\r\nJoyce met Jeptha Smith shortly after he returned from WWII. A year later they were married in the Methodist Church in Cromwell, Oklahoma on December 6, 1947.\r\n\r\nAfter graduating from high school in Cromwell, Oklahoma, she was a secretary with Oklahoma State Welfare Dept. in Wewoka, Oklahoma and then Oklahoma City. After marriage she was an executive secretary with Travelers Insurance in Ponca City, Oklahoma, Ideal Cement Co. in Galena Park, Texas, and over twenty years with Reynolds Metals Co. which later merged with Alcoa Metals Co. in Ingleside, Texas. She retired in 1985.\r\n\r\nIn 1972 she was awarded the "Woman of the Year" in the ABWA in Corpus Christi, Texas of which she was very proud. She always enjoyed visits with her family, attending to her flowers and was an outstanding bridge player for the past 50 years. She played in numerous bridge clubs and had numerous wins and a few master points which was a great joy to her. She also enjoyed decorating for the holidays and always put up numerous Christmas trees for family and friends to enjoy. Her Christmas trees were featured in several newspapers.\r\n\r\nJoyce and her husband moved to the Hill Country in 1999.\r\n\r\nShe will be interred in the family Chapel Columbarium on the family property. A memorial will be held as the family wishes.\r\n\r\n