Joyce Oliver Bowden passed away peacefully May 21, 2010, in Dallas, Texas, from complications of leukemia. Joyce was born July 12, 1929, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Annie and Rock Oliver. Joyce grew up in Baton Rouge and earned a nursing degree from Our Lady of the Lake College, and worked as a registered nurse. She married John Coreaux Bowden of Atlanta, Georgia, on April 7, 1956. The couple eventually moved to Waco, Texas, where they lived for forty years.
Joyce was a homemaker and civic volunteer. She was a founding member of St. Jerome Catholic Church of Hewitt, Texas, the Waco Study Club, the Woodway Boys’ Club of Waco, and the Kappa Delta sorority at Baylor University. She was on the board of directors of the East Terrace House of Historic Waco, the Strecker Museum, and the local chapter of the American Red Cross. In 1999, Joyce and John moved to Dallas. Joyce was a dedicated parishioner at Christ the King Catholic Church, and served in the Altar Society. She was awarded membership in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. She was active in the Salvation Army Auxiliary, and was member of the Dallas Woman’s Club. Joyce is survived by her husband, John, of 54 years; a daughter, Scarlett Bowden Holland of Dallas; a son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Jennifer Bowden, of Austin; four grandchildren: John Commerce Bowden, Grace Ann Bowden, and Tate Ladd Bowden of Austin, and Lela Sophia Bowden Holland of Dallas. She is also survived by her brother, Jasper “Bud” Oliver and his wife, Shirley Oliver, of Baton Rouge, and nine nieces and nephews: Joyce Nichols, John Monica, Roxie Banker, and Ronald Jude Monica, and also, Richard Oliver, David Oliver, Caroline Thompson, Nancy Oliver, Patricia Oliver. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Josie Oliver Pack, of Waco, Texas. A memorial mass will be conducted by Reverend Monsignor Donald Zimmerman at twelve o’clock on Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at Christ the King Catholic Church, in Dallas, Texas. The memorial mass will be preceded by a private interment service at Hillcrest Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorial gifts to The Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, or the North Texas Food Bank.
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