Joy Tarpley Moneyhon

1945 - 2025

Joy Alice Tarpley Moneyhon was born on May 25, 1945 to Alice Dora (Morgan) Tarpley and John William Tarpley in Austin, Texas. She grew up in the Travis Heights neighborhood of South Austin and attended Travis Heights Elementary, Fulmore Junior High, and Wm. B. Travis High Schools. In 1970 she earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences. One of her greatest passions was playing French Horn in the Longhorn Band.
After graduation, she moved with her first husband, Carl Moneyhon, to Chicago and worked in the field of software development. She was instrumental in the initial computerization of businesses such as United Airlines and Marshall Fields. After 6 years, her career at Computer Sciences Corporation took her to Huntington Beach California for 19 years where she and her second husband, Charles Royston, founded Southern California Software, Inc. While in California she earned her "private pilot single engine land certificate" at the Orange County Airport. She also took up golf which became a life-long passion. Her running career began at age 52 and she completed 3 marathons.
Upon returning to Austin, she was a compassionate and kind daughter to her mother – even moving with her for a few years to Italy Texas so Alice could enjoy the company of her Morgan family.
Joy's passions included all UT sports (especially football!), music of any genre, her gold 1974 Porsche 911, flying, golf, crossword puzzles, walking, international travel, good food, good drinks, female empowerment, and social justice.
She leaves behind her beloved older brother, John William "Bill" Tarpley for whom she felt an abiding sense of responsibility, caring, and devotion.
Joy died of heart failure on September 18, 2025 in Georgetown Texas, and will be greatly missed by her many relatives and wonderful friends. A memorial open house is planned tentatively for the afternoon of Sunday, November 16th. For additional information regarding the time and place, please contact her next-of-kin, BE McClelland (bemcclelland@utexas.edu). If you wish to honor Joy's life and memory, please consider donating in her name to the Texas Longhorn Band Legacy Fund (https://music.utexas.edu/support-bsom/giving/longhorn-band-legacy-fund).