Joyce Ann Brandt

Joyce was born in Bay City, Michigan. Her family moved to California where she graduated from Bell Gardens Senior High School. In 1952, she married her high school sweetheart, Roy DeAtley (d. 1995). In 1970, they moved to Riviera Beach, Florida with their daughter and 3 sons. She worked in the West Palm Beach Police Department as a secretary and later became the church secretary at Nativity Lutheran Church in Palm Beach Gardens. When Roy returned to California, Joyce raised their 3 sons in Florida as a single parent, sometimes working two jobs to make ends meet. Her daughter, Gail, and son-in-law, Scott, were always by her side.

Joyce raised her 3 sons to be men of faith and integrity. All 3 served this country in the Air Force - 2 retired from the AF and 1 went on to serve as a Law Enforcement Captain and then Security Director of 3 exclusive communities. Her daughter was an educator in several Palm Beach County schools, Palm Beach State College, and Florida Atlantic University.

Joyce met the love of her life in Palm Beach Gardens, Donald W. Brandt (d. 2019). They married in 1984 and Joyce added 2 “bonus daughters,” Elizabeth and Kathy, to her life. Don and Joyce moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where she worked for Whelchel & Associates, retiring in 1997. Don and Joyce then moved to Lynch Station, Virginia to their dream retirement home on a wooded property they had groomed and developed over the preceding years. Over the years in VA, their neighbors and friends became “family” in their eyes. They so loved them all!

As Joyce and Don aged and met challenges to their health, they needed to live closer to family and so moved to Stuart, Florida in 2017. While in Stuart, Joyce made many dear friends through her love of knitting, crocheting, and quilting. She loved sewing bears and donating them to Care Net. Her Kane Center Knitting group friends were dearly loved. She also made friends through her attendance at Redeemer Lutheran Church and through two grief groups she attended. She always found joy in sharing with others.

Joyce is one who made “forever friends.” She remembered birthdays, anniversaries, celebrations and sent cards and made calls for years! She was a strong woman of faith with a stubborn streak yet a very sweet spirit. Even her medical doctors and caregivers fell in love with her.

An unexpected diagnosis of cancer in April this year brought Trustbridge Hospice into our lives. Joyce was cared for at home with their support for 7 weeks and then she spent her last 6 days in their inpatient care in Jupiter, FL. What a blessing Hospice has been!

Joyce has requested there be no service. Her ashes will join Don’s ashes at Avoca in Alta Vista, Virginia in the fall. In her memory, you may choose to donate to a cause that gives to the wellbeing of others, such as Trustbridge Hospice.

Joyce is lovingly remembered by her sister, Judy Weimer (Rex), and her brother, Jack Call (June), her children: Gail Russell (Scott), Bill DeAtley (Becky), Russ DeAtley (Jodi), Scott DeAtley (Mary), Elizabeth Brandt Kinser (Tim), and Kathryn Brandt Durno (Tim), 9 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and too many friends to count!

Joyce will truly be missed!