Dexter Joyner

1939 - 2023

Dexter was born on August 4, 1939, in Wilson, North Carolina. He moved with his family as a child to Henderson, TX. Dexter passed away in his sleep on Sunday, October 15 in Southlake, TX. Dexter graduated from Henderson High School in 1957. From there Dexter attended Stephen F. Austin with a degree in History, graduated in 1962. Dexter then taught at Pine Tree High School in Longview, TX from 1964 to 1967, teaching History, Sociology, and Civics. He pursued a law degree from South Texas School of Law in Houston, TX, receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 1970. When he took the State Bar of Texas Exam in 1970, he made the second highest score in the state. He completed his law degree while working full-time with Pritchard & Abbot an ad valorem firm while attending law school at night. He then practiced law from 1971 to 2022 in Pasadena, TX supporting numerous school districts in the Houston area - Galena Park ISD, Pasadena ISD, Alief ISD, La Porte ISD, and Nederland ISD. Dexter was a founding member of the Galena Park ISD Education Foundation. Dexter was also a Lifetime member of the Houston Livestock and Rodeo committee. He was a founding member of Galena Park ISD Foundation, FFA and the Santa Gertrudis Youth Foundation.

Dexter was a lifelong lover of animals raising Santa Gertrudis cattle, Arabian horses, and Australian Shepherd dogs. He never met a cat, dog, bull, or horse he didn't love. He raised Santa Gertrudis cattle and Arabian horses in Schulenburg, Texas with his family. During his earlier years he enjoyed traveling to Germany and England touring Arabian horse farms and the automotive factories of Mercedes Benz and Porsche. He and his former wife, Jan imported several Straight Egyptian Arabian horses from Germany to serve as their foundation bloodstock to develop their breeding program. Dexter was a member of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders International board. While being active with the Santa Gertrudis International Breeders (SGBI) he supported the National Santa Gertrudis Youth Foundation by donating heifers to FFA programs to the SGBI juniors to show to earn scholarships. He was an automotive enthusiast with an appreciation of Ford trucks, Ford Mustangs, Mercedes Benz, and Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Dexter was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley and Annette Joyner as well as his brother Gregg Joyner. He is survived by his sons; Jeff Joyner (Nyasha) of Farmersville, TX, Derek Joyner (Kim) of League City, TX, his daughter Dana Guggenberger (Chris) of Wylie, TX and his former wife, Jan Hogsed of Schulenburg, TX. Dexter is also survived by his granddaughter, Ashley Thompson (Justin) of Alvin, TX. As well as 3 additional granddaughters and two step grandsons and one great grandson.

Funeral services for Mr. Joyner will be held at Rader Funeral Home of Henderson on Saturday, October 21 at 11am, with the burial to follow at Rusk County Memorial Gardens. A Celebration of Life will be held at the American Legion Hall in Schulenburg, TX on Saturday, November 4 from 1 to 3pm.

In lieu of flower please donate to one of the following:

The Galena Park Education Foundation, In Memory of Dexter Joyner

https://www.galenaparkisd.com/Page/8999

The National Santa Gertrudis Youth Foundation

P.O. Box 1257

Kingsville, TX 78364

All activities performed by the organization are for the purpose of administering education and scholarship programs for involved youth in the breeding of Santa Gertrudis Cattle. The special events and activities include the Nat'l Jr. Heifer Show and related activities - The majority of the program expenses are included with this special event.

The Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter in La Grange, TX

https://janssenanimalshelter.org/

Love This Horse Rescue for Arabian Horses

https://www.lovethishorsearabianrescue.org/