Joyce Lynelle Royse

Joyce Lynelle Royse (1944-2025)
Joyce Lynelle Royse (Stover), 81, of Granbury, Texas was called to Glory on Friday, November 28, 2025. She was blessed to spend the previous day celebrating Thanksgiving with family and being well loved.
She was born in Harlingen, Texas on March 6, 1944 to William Howard and Olena Ruth Stover. The youngest of two daughters, she grew up in the Fort Worth area, graduating as valedictorian of Haltom Senior High School in 1962. She followed a calling to serve Jesus that led her to study at Dallas Christian College where Joyce met the love of her life and husband, James. They were married on June 4, 1965. He preceded her in death on July 12, 2024 after over 59 years of marriage.
They served in ministry for their entire adult lives, he as a head minister/preacher, elder, deacon, and Joyce primarily in the classroom. Her passion and gift was teaching. Even after retiring, she continued teaching Sunday school at every church she attended. She made sure every child she taught felt loved and cared for. Their life of service to reach people for Jesus and minister to those of like precious faith covered many places across Texas, Louisiana, and California. Their ministry included McKinney Christian, Riley Christian (twice), Orangefield Christian, Big Spring Christian, Andrews Christian, Oakcrest Christian (Shreveport, LA), Inglewood Christian (Inglewood, CA), DeSoto Christian, Haltom City Christian, and Granbury Church of Christ where their final ministry together served the people of Harbor Lakes Nursing and Rehabilitation Center until February 2024. Joyce's final weeks were also spent in care at Harbor Lakes.
A beloved elementary school teacher, her 19-year career blessed hundreds of children at Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, LA), Inglewood Christian School (Inglewood, CA), and DeSoto Private School (DeSoto, TX). Joyce also specialized in reading methods for children with dyslexia, a disability she overcame before learning to help others. She continued consulting on dyslexia reading methods after retiring from the classroom. Joyce is survived by her beloved sister Billie Ruth Holder, married to Kenneth Ray Holder of Lipan. She lived happily with Billie from May 2024 through October 2025 surrounded and supported by their loving family. She is also survived by her three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She and James have two sons James (Jamey) Crawford Royse, married to Toni Royse, and John Charles Royse, married to Valerie Royse. They adopted their granddaughter, Jacquelyn Marie (Royse) Garcia, married to Brian Garcia. They have 7 grandchildren: Mara Belle, Jordan, Jillian, William (Liam), Julie, John Charles (J.C.), and Kinley. They also have three great grandchildren, Royse, Tobias, and Isabella.
Joyce loved supporting James in community service since moving to Granbury in 2001, especially the Granbury Lion's Club through their perfect attendance recognition, flag placement, pancake dinners, and eyeglass donation and recycling. Joyce also portrayed Mrs. Claus alongside James for many years as Santa Claus at school functions or family gatherings to the delight of all the children they encountered.
Joyce's sweet spirit, kindness, contagious happiness, and quiet support to others will be missed by so many. While we mourn the loss of a great and godly woman here on Earth, we know she was welcomed into Heaven with great rejoicing and celebration.
There will be a viewing at Wiley Funeral Home this Thursday, December 4, 2025, from 5 until 7 PM. Family and friends are invited to celebrate her life at 11AM on Friday, December 5, 2025 at the Forest Grove Church in Lucas [2542 Country Club Rd. Lucas, TX 75002] followed immediately by her burial at Fitzhugh Cemetery [2540 Country Club Road, Lucas, TX 75002].
In lieu of flowers, Donations to Dallas Christian College for the Endowment Fund for Scholarships in her honor would be greatly appreciated [Dallas Christian College, 2700 Christian Parkway, Dallas, TX 75234].