Joyce Fay Callahan, 81, of Beaumont, died Sunday, May 18, 2014, at Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont. She was born on July 15, 1932, in Troup, Texas, to Ethel Ross Franklin and Roy Franklin, and had been a longtime resident of Beaumont.
Joyce was a retired teacher who received her Master’s degree at Stephen F. Austin and her Bachelor’s degree at East Texas State. She taught twenty-three years at French High School in Beaumont, and she taught two years at Central High School. Joyce loved her students and teaching and was Teacher of the Year for BISD in 1977-1978. She was honored by Texas A&M as Beaumont’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 1977. Joyce received an award for ten years of outstanding and dedicated service to TSTA. She was an Honorary Lifetime Member of Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers. Joyce was the drill team sponsor of the Buffalo Bells for five years. She was awarded the Outstanding and Dedicated Service Award in 1976, 1979, and 1980. Joyce was also the sponsor of French High Future Teachers of America. She was honored as Outstanding Leader in 1977-1978 by Future Teachers FHS.
She loved her neighbors and community. Joyce received an Outstanding Community Service award from Top Ladies of Distinction in 1978.
Joyce was a member of the Red Hat Society and loved her Red Hat Women. She traveled all over the United States with the Red Hatters. She was nicknamed by Red Hatters, along with Pat Duncan and Becky Guess, as the “Three Musketeers”.
She was a member of North End Baptist Church and loved her church and Sunday school class. Joyce didn’t mind sharing Christian wisdom, and she was willing to pray with anyone she met and of course for her family.
Joyce had an infectious smile and laugh that would brighten your day. She never met a stranger making friends everywhere she went and remembering their name.
Some of her hobbies included collecting, traveling, dancing, karaoke, playing games…especially trivia, and dressing up for skits. Joyce loved to decorate her house for holidays EVERY month. She also enjoyed her Mexican food and fried pickles.
Survivors include her husband, John S. Callahan; children, John Brent Callahan and his wife, Kathy, of Bevil Oaks and Jan Carol Sparks and her husband, Randy, of Orange; grandson, John Skyler Wilberding of Orange; daughter-in-law, Carley Wilberding of Groves; step-grandchildren, Amy Minter of Orange; Allison Allison and her husband, David, of Michigan; and Chris Sparks and his wife, Megan, of Orange; great-granddaughter, Scarlet Wilberding; great-grandchildren, Colin, Carson, and Addison Minter, Keller Ascol, Declan Allison, and Maybrie Sparks; sisters-in-law, Shirley Franklin of Tyler and Virginia Ludwig; nieces and nephews, Kenn Franklin, Missy Cantrell, Debbie Estes, and Melody Long; great-nieces and nephews; and her best friend, Pat Duncan and her husband, Neal.
She is preceded in death by her parents; and twin brother, Royce Franklin.
A gathering of Mrs. Callahan’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 23, 2014, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Her Red Hat Society funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 24, 2014, at Broussard’s. Her committal will be held at Broussard’s Crematorium, Beaumont.
