Obituary of Wanda Joyce Beach

Wanda Joyce Beach, age 80, of Mount Vernon, passed away in the early evening hours of Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at Titus Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant.  Joyce was born on January 13, 1937 in Anson, Texas to the late James Marion and Pearl Bennett Stoneman.  Following high school, Joyce began her career in various administrative rolls including working as a long time credit manager for Sears and most recently in the payroll department of Jordan’s Home Health Care in Mount Vernon. 

Joyce married Edgar “Ed” J. Beach on July 15, 2000 in Mount Vernon.  Together they spent the next 17 years enjoying their combined children and grandchildren.  He survives.

Joyce was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon where she was a member of The Mission Sunday School Class.  Joyce was a strong Christian woman whose faith in the Lord was central in her life.  She was active in the auxiliary for the Gideon’s ensuring the Bible was available to all people around the world.  Those who knew Joyce best will remember her for her cooking and her love of holidays, especially birthdays.  But what truly made her happy was her beloved children and grandchildren.  Joyce was a great mother who became an even better grandmother.  To her grandchildren Joyce was the light of their lives.  She never missed a recital, ball game, or any other activity her grandchildren were involved in.  Joyce leaves behind a legacy of faith in her Lord, love of her family, and dedication to all of those she knew and loved that will live on for generations. 

Joyce is survived by her husband Ed of Mount Vernon; two daughters, Deanna Pickens, and husband Randy, of Mount Vernon and Tammie Lee of Granbury, Texas; step-sons, Jay Beach, and wife Gidget Lincoln, of Poulsbo, Washington and Tav Wasser, and wife Sarah, of Whidbey Island, Washington; step-daughters, Melonie Brown, and husband Donal, of Arlington, Washington, Meridee Kortan, and husband Fevzi, of Concrete, Washington, and Michelle Kazmac, and husband Michael, of Douglas, Alaska; grandchildren, Travis Pickens, and wife Valerie, Hayley Dickson, and husband Dustin, Cassie Gammill, and husband Shane, Sieannda Lee, Keaton Lee, Acey Beach, and Kira Wasser; sister, Jolene Lain of Pittsburg, Texas; and by 7 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and very special friends.

Joyce was preceded in death by the father of her children, J.L. Jones.

Funeral services for Joyce Beach will be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Sam B. Harvey Funeral Home with Pastor Pepper Puryear officiating.  Burial will follow at Grey Rock Cemetery in Winfield with Shane Gammill, Jimmy Lain, Randal Lain, Ricky Lain, Keaton Lee, and Travis Pickens serving as pallbearers.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the funeral home Saturday afternoon.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Gideons International Processing Center, P.O. Box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251.  https://www2.gideons.org/donate