Joyce went to be with the Lord on Sunday, August 27, 2023 peacefully surrounded by her family that loved her.
Visitation: 6-8PM, Tuesday, August 29 at Lake Shore Funeral Home
Funeral Service: 10AM, Wednesday, August 30 at Oak Grove Baptist Church with burial to follow at Wortham Bend Cemetery.
Joyce was born in Bosque County to Clem and Mary Bryant.
She enjoyed her childhood years on the family farm on the Brazos River with her parents and sisters, Joan and Lucy. She came to know the Lord at an early age, and she was baptized in Childress Creek. She was a longtime member of Oakgrove Baptist Church in China Spring.
She married James Shows and was blessed with three wonderful sons.
She attended China Spring School, Waco Tech., and then went to Beauty School. She owned and operated Joyce’s Beauty Shop for 30 years and made many friends. She was a respected member of the community.
She married Sam Yates in 1981 and added three children to her family.
Joyce and Sam enjoyed traveling and went to every state, 8 provinces in Canada, The Bahamas, and Mexico. However, Joyce was more at home on her riding mower cutting the lawn, cemetery, and even the field behind the house. As long as Sam kept her mower going, she stayed out of his kitchen.
Joyce and Sam enjoyed hosting many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. She loved being with the family and dearly loved her 9 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clem and Mary Bryant; sister, Joan Donaldson; son, Sam Yates Jr.; and two brother in laws, Bill Donaldson and Danny Havis.
She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Samuel Yates, Sr.; sons, Neal Shows and wife Geri, Allen Shows, and Robert Shows and wife Vicki; stepchildren, Dori Smith and Carrie McBride; sister, Lucy Havis; 9 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Donations can be made in her memory to Wortham Bend Cemetery Association, PO Box 27, China Spring TX 76633
Print Obituary & Condolences
Joyce will be remembered as kind and gracious. She loved her family and her life on the Brazos. Her sweet smile and Christian light will be missed. As I listen to “I Can Only Imagine” I picture Joyce dancing with Jesus. My condolences and love to her family.
Sam, Neil, Allen, Robert & Vicki, So sad :(. I will miss the way she greeted you with a hug and didnt let go while you were talking to her. I was an adult before I realized that we werent blood related! Lifting yall up in prayer! Love yall!!
Sam,Allen,Neal,and Robert and families I am so sorry for your loss .Joyce was the most beautiful and wonderful lady we ever knew and we loved her very much .God bless all of you.ya have a Guardian Angel now
I am so sorry for your loss. Joyce was a true Christian women. She was always smiling. I know she is really smiling with Jesus now. She is pain free.
Prayers for you all,
Donna Owens
Very sorry to hear about the passing of your mother & mother-in-law. May God comfort everyone during this difficult time.
Joyce always accepted me and treated me as family. I love her for that. Wish I could have said this to her in person. I bet she knows that anyway. Sending my love.
I am sorry for your loss. I know you and your family will miss her. I’ll be praying for peace during this
difficult time.
Neal. I sorry for your loss. I pray you and your family find
Peace knowing your mom is celebrating in heaven.
So sorry for your loss. Joyce was a fun person and always smiling. We were talking about babies and she said she didn’t want a girl, messing with her boys. Praying for all the families.
Wish I had the correct words to ease your broken hearts. Joyce has left so many of us with wonderful memories. My memories go way back to the 1960’s. Fun times at her beauty shop and family get togethers. Prayers for the entire family.
My prayers are with the family. I remember Mrs. Shows from my childhood. My mom would get us a perm before every school year plus getting hair cuts.
Abundance of prayers and much love to the Shows family from the McNair family. So sorry for your loss. Joyce was wonderful lady. Fondest regards,
Kathy Brem McNair
Sam, Neal, Allen, Robert and families. It is so hard to express in words the love I have for Joyce. She was a beloved member of the Stone family. She was another “aunt” to my cousins and I and all our kids and even grandkids. Joyce’s smile brightened every day and lit up a room with her love. I know she was welcomed with open arms when she reached her “heavenly home”. Angel Joyce is watching over all of you May God wrap you in His loving arms during this time of grief. I love each of you and will keep you in my prayers always.
God will give you the strength to make this time of loss easier. Joyce was a special lady. God bless each and every one of you.
So sorry for your loss. I had not seen Joyce in many years but remember her from my childhood in Wortham Bend
May God hold you close in his loving arms. Spent many years in church with the Bryant family. Reaching out with prayers for comfort to all of you.