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Joyce Thompson Pybas was born November 22, 1929 at her grandparents’ home near Pearson, OK. She passed away August 1, 2023 at the age of 93.
Joyce grew up in South Pottawatomie County attending school in several Oklahoma towns before graduating eighth grade at Cloverdale and high school at Wanette. Times were hard because of the Great Depression and the family moved frequently due to her Dad's jobs; however, they always came back to the local area.
After high school graduation Joyce enrolled at Oklahoma A&M (OSU) earning a BS in Vocational Home Economics Education in 1951. She received her MS in Home Economics Education from Oklahoma University in 1974. She taught home economics for a total of 20 years at Wister, Tishomingo, Wilson and Konawa. She served as FHA sub-district counselor, serving on the State FHA Advisory Committee for several years, participated in FHA National Leadership Meetings with student representatives at fifteen meetings while teaching. She was active in the home economics division of OVA serving as secretary- treasurer several years before moving on to Chairman. She served as a cooperating teacher for student teachers from East Central State University and OSU. Honors received while teaching include Masonic Teacher of the Year twice, Grand Cross of Colors for distinguished service to International Order of Rainbow for Girls. Received outstanding service award from an FFA Chapter for assisting in establishing a program of Vocational Agriculture and FFA.
Joyce left teaching to become Southeast District Supervisor of Home Economics for the Oklahoma Department of Vocational & Technical Education (Career Tech). In 1980 Joyce was named Acting State Supervisor after the death •of the State Supervisor and was later hired as State Supervisor. In 1988 she took advantage of the "open window·, took early retirement and started volunteering in the snack bar at Stillwater Municipal Hospital, while taking care of probates for her mother and two brothers. She moved to Wanette in 1989, becoming a "country gal" again after marrying Gordon Pybas. After Gordon's death she moved to Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon in 2003, joining friends she worked with in Stillwater. She did volunteer work in the Marketing Office until she suffered a serious bout of Vertigo in 2016.
Family was always important to Joyce. She was blessed with love and encouragement throughout her life from family, relatives and friends. She was a loving Aunt "Ninnie” to all her nieces & nephews & stepchildren and their families. She spent a lot of time encouraging them and keeping them busy with activities when they visited on summer vacations. Joyce was always outnumbered by boys, so she was a natural "tom-boy".
Joyce is survived by one niece, Joyce & Terry Belyeu, Spring Branch, TX; and three nephews, Charles N. II & Autumn Thompson, Spearfish, SD; Roger & Stacey Thompson, Canyon Lake, TX; and Ted & Kara Thompson, Newtown, PA. She is survived by a stepdaughter, Mary & Mike Bauer, Jenks, OK; and a stepson, Don & Carole Pybas, Palmetto Bay, FL. Step-grandchildren are Blake & Braden Bauer, Jenks, OK; Jesse & Jenny Pybas, Cutler Bay, FL; Nicolas & Loralyn Pybas, Palmetto Bay, FL; and Sarah & Blake East, St. Petersburg, FL. She is survived by numerous grand and great grandnieces & nephews and step grand and great grandnieces & nephews. She is survived by several dear cousins and a host of friends from her years spent in education as well as volunteering at Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon, OK, where she lived since 2003. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Cleta Cheatwood, Lawton, OK; and Betty Sue Pybas, Wanette, OK.
Joyce is predeceased by her husband Gordon Pybas; parents Walter & Clara Thompson; sister Joy Fay Thompson; and brothers Roy, Nolen & W.E. (Bill) Thompson; nephews Sam Thompson, Walter Thompson, Steven Thompson, and niece Alva Rae Harrison.
Memorial Service will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh. Please join the celebration of Joyce’s life through Cooper Funeral Home’s Facebook page for live streaming of the service.
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