Dorothy Jane Joyce

Dorothy Jane (McCalip) Joyce, 94, of Ocean Springs, MS died on Friday, September 16, 2011 in Ocean Springs, MS. Dorothy was born March 31, 1917 to William and Julia McCalip in Panama, Oklahoma. She attended high school in Panama and business school in Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was married to Clarence Joyce on January 14, 1939, and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1989. She moved to the Coastal area in 1962 and into her home in Ocean Springs on Cambridge Blvd. in 1963. She worked for Ingall's Ship Building until her retirement in the 80's. Dorothy traveled across the United States as she and Clarence were involved in the building of many large dam and construction projects. She was very proficient at reading blue prints for many of these projects. Very few women of her era were capable of doing this. She and Clarence were very active in the world of Square Dancing wherever they lived and as everything else that Dorothy did, her dancing was excellent. She made many longtime friends everywhere she lived and she always opened her home to any who cared to share her hospitality and friendship. She and Clarence enjoyed fishing and traveling in their motor home until his death in 1989, she then continued some of these activities for a few years with friends. Dorothy's family and friends would like to extend a special thank you to her attending nurse, Misty and the staff of the Ocean Springs Hospital. We also wish to express our appreciation to the staff of the Loyalton Assisted Living Facility, where Dorothy spent the last several months of her life, for all of the thoughts and inquiries about her well being and the care she received while living there. A thank you also needs to be extended to the care givers of Amedisys and SAAD's for the care Dorothy received while she was still in her home. The family would like to express a special thank you to three very special friends, Allene Chatham, Joan Rhodes and Pat Russell, who cared for and loved Dorothy in the absence of her family. The kindnesses that were extended to Dorothy by her many friends are too numerous to list here, but please know they will never be forgotten by her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Lillian, Juanita, Mamie and Margaret; brothers, Carl, her twin, Doyal and infant twin brothers. Survivors include many nieces and nephews and wonderful friends who were as close to her as her family. Visitation will be from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm, with a 2:00 pm chapel service on Friday, September 23, 2011 all at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park.