Joyce June Beyer

Joyce June Burns Beyer, 91, of Waco, Tx, passed away peacefully, on Saturday, July 25, 2026, after a 10-year battle with anemia, and MDS- a blood cancer, as well as heart issues.

Joyce was born on November 16, 1934, at home, to Rufus Kennymore Burns & Anna Eva Patrick Burns in Paris, Texas. She was the fourth of five children. She was deeply loved and supported by her family. Joyce lived with her brother Dariel and his family in Oak Cliff (Dallas), Texas during her high school years.

After graduating from Adamson High school, Joyce went to work at the Dallas Courthouse and then worked in the Dallas District Attorney Office for Henry Wade (the lead prosecutor who secured the death penalty for Jack Ruby, the man who assassinated Lee Harvey Oswald).

Joyce married her high school sweetheart and gave birth to 3 children: Denise Chappell, Kim Burns Chappell, who died two months after his birth, and Terri Chappell.

Upon their divorce, Joyce supported herself and her two daughters for several years before meeting the love of her life, Harry Beyer. Harry was the manager of Economy Supply Company in Waco. They married on February 20, 1959 – three months after their first date.

Joyce loaded up her daughters, Denise & Terri, and drove to Waco to start her new life with Harry.

Upon arriving in Waco, Joyce and family visited several churches before joining First Baptist Church. It was at First Baptist Church that Joyce became good friends with Marilyn Edwards Preslar. Marilyn was active in Beta Sigma Phi, and she thought Joyce would be a great fit for this sorority. Joyce joined Beta Sigma Phi in 1959 and was a member for over sixty-two years.

In July of 1960, Joyce gave birth to Mark Tracy, who brought great joy to the family. Joyce was fortunate to be a stay-at-home mom raising her three children. As the children got older, she did work part-time for Dub King, who was responsible for public relations for the Heart of Texas Fair. She had a lot of fun at that job. She chauffeured Ken Curtis, who played Festus from “Gunsmoke” around Waco as well as Leonard Nimoy, who played Dr. Spock in “Star Trek”. Joyce also encountered other celebrities around Waco: Fabian, Clint Walker, and Roger Staubach. Joyce managed to get all their autographs, which she gave to Denise for her ever-growing autograph collection.

Joyce was active in the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association), serving at one time in three different PTAs—elementary, junior high, and high school. Through the years, she also participated in the Historic Homes of Waco, City Council, and other organizations, including Meals on Wheels with Harry, for many years.

Joyce and Harry welcomed their first grandchild, Amanda, in 1984. Amanda quickly captured their hearts. Joyce would send weekly photos of Amanda to Denise and Terri to keep them updated on their niece. Joyce kept Amanda dressed to the hilt! And took Amanda out with her on a regular basis.

If anyone knew Joyce, they knew she loved to shop. Who can forget the time she rode her bicycle over to Cox’s at Westview to pick up her Easter Hat, bringing the hat box home on the handlebars. Joyce’s favorite phrase was “shop until you drop”. Joyce, Pat Earley and Marilynn Davis loved to travel to Dallas for the day, arriving by 10 am, when the stores opened. Shopping all day, they would leave after 9 pm as the stores closed, driving back to Waco, usually arriving by midnight.

Joyce was an avid reader of all genres. English historical fiction was a particular favorite along with presidential biographies. Joyce’s hobbies included playing bridge. While Joyce and Harry played as couples, Joyce was involved with three different day groups in her later years, and would play bridge two to three times a week. When the pandemic hit in 2020, she felt lost not being with her bridge partners.

Joyce’s number one love was Beta Sigma Phi. Joyce and Harry loved attending the Valentine Dances, Beta Sigma Phi Conventions, costume parties, scavenger hunts, trips to South Padre and so many other activities. Joyce and Harry made their best friends through sorority. To name a few, Jerry/Marilyn Edwards, Jack/Beverly Schwan, Marlin/Pat Earley, Bob/Marilynn Davis, Frank/June Gibbs, Jim/Lou Christian, Byron/Margaret Brown, Jim/Louise Stafford…..

Joyce got her first taste of travel in 1986, when she went to London, England, to watch the Dallas Cowboys play the Chicago Bears in the first American Bowl at Wembley Stadium. Her daughter Terri and Terri’s new husband, Gary Boyd, were going to London for their honeymoon, and knowing how much Joyce loved the Cowboys, Terri invited her mother along. It was Joyce’s first time flying, and she traveled first class. She quickly learned that if she planned to travel more, she would need to fly coach.

Christmas was Joyce’s favorite holiday, and New York City was one of her favorite places to visit, especially during the Christmas season. She loved the decorations, the musicals, the Rockettes, Little Italy, and shopping in Chinatown.

In 2009, Joyce and Harry became guardians of their great-grandson, Dylan. Although they were in their mid-70s, they wholeheartedly embraced raising a four-year-old. Once again, they became involved in school functions, sports, and many other activities. They valued watching Dylan grow into a young man. Joyce and Harry also began a new tradition: after taking Dylan to school, they would stop at the Starbucks on Bosque and Wooded Acres, sit in their car, talk, and take in the world around them. You could always find them there, Monday through Friday. Denise and Terri enjoyed many morning conversations with them.

Joyce loved her children, and they loved her deeply. She was always there for them-whether helping them move from one city or state to another or typing their high school and college research papers at 3 a.m. When Graham was born, Joyce was on call, and would come up just for a day, or maybe several days to help Terri out.

One of the family’s funniest memories was when Joyce attended a U2 concert in Dallas with Mark because he had no one else to go with him. Wearing leather pants and a vest, she experienced her first rock ’n’ roll concert.

Whether going to a U2 Concert, First Baptist Church, or even the HEB, Joyce was always put together – lipstick, earrings, hats, right down to her shoes.

Joyce was a beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, and Friend.

Joyce will be dearly missed.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Howard Beyer; her parents; her sister, Virginia Lee Burns Powers, her two brothers, Walter A. Burns & Dariel Burns. Her sons, Kim Burns Chappell and Mark Tracy Beyer. Her son-in-law, Gary Alan Boyd. Her sister-in-law, Virginia Beyer Chappell.

Those left to cherish her memory and her joy of life are her two daughters, Denise Chappell Marshall & her husband, Kenneth Randall Marshall; Terri Chappell Boyd; grandson, Graham Hampton Boyd; granddaughter, Amanda Anne Beyer; great-grandson, Dylan MichaelDunn, great-granddaughter, Angel Marie Huggins & great-granddaughter, Amaya Rodriquez; brother, Scott Houston Forman, as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.

Joyce’s Celebration of Life will be Saturday, September 5TH, 11:30 am, First Baptist Church Chapel. 500 Webster Ave, Waco, Texas 76706. A time for sharing memories and refreshments to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, Donations can be made to First Baptist Church, or an organization of your choice.