Joyce Smith

Joyce L. Smith
July 31, 1934 - February 7, 2023

Joyce L. Smith was called home to her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, February 7th, at Providence Health Center after a sudden illness.

Joyce LaFaye Campbell was born in Belfalls, Texas to Marvin Dudley (Dud) Campbell and Minnie Whitlow Campbell. She was their third child and only daughter.

Joyce grew up with her brothers, Jamie and Ray in Oenaville, Tx. She attended Temple schools before attending High School at Troy. Troy High School is where she met the love of her life, Billy Lawrence Smith. They were both in the 1951 graduating class.

After graduation, Joyce worked in Temple doing clerical work while Billy was away serving in the Air Force in Japan during the Korean War.

In 1955, after Billy returned back where they lived until Billy’s time was served in the Air Force. They then moved back to Texas and started farming at Cego, Texas. It was during that time they were blessed with their first child, David Timothy (Tim) in 1956. After several years of farming, they moved to Waco where Billy went to work for the Waco Fire Dept.

In 1963, they were blessed a second time with a daughter, Perri Denise.

Joyce was a devoted wife and mother. She was very loving, kind, and had great patience.

As her family got older she worked outside the home for Bellmead Booking, and later worked at several different financial institutions as a Bank Teller.

In 1990 she happily retired to stay home and help care for her grandchildren which was one of her greatest joys and blessing of her life. She loved being “Nanny” and was quite famous with her grandchildren for her wonderful “Nanny rocks.” They loved being rocked, sang to, and snuggled under a quilt she made for each of them.

Joyce was a faithful Christian and attended church with her family her entire life and loved her church family and friends. She was a member of the New Road Church of Christ at the time of her passing.

When she wasn’t busy, Joyce loved reading, doing puzzles, and sewing. She could often be found in her rocking chair with a good book, or at her card table with a jigsaw puzzle, and she worked the crossword puzzle in the newspaper daily. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed making clothing and small quilts.

Joyce will greatly be missed by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Billy Lawrence Smith; her parents, Dud and Minnie; and her brothers, Jamie Campbell and Ray Campbell.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her son, Tim Smith; daughter, Perri Johnson and husband, Paul; granddaughter, Katie Lee and husband, Trevor; grandson, Austin Johnson and husband, Dave Ruiz; great-grandchildren, Caroline and Ethan Lee; long time family friend, Don Watkins; and many nieces and nephews.

Any donation wishing to be made in her memory can be made to St. Jude.