Joyce June LaGrone, 92, formerly of Groesbeck, Texas, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 28, 2025, at Buffalo Creek Assisted Living Facility in Waxahachie. 

She was born on February 7, 1933, in Liberty, Texas, to parents John F. and Allie V. Arceneaux. Joyce graduated Liberty High School in 1951 then attended Lon Morris Jr. College, in Jacksonville, Texas, where she met the love of her life, Charles “Bubba” LaGrone, of Jewett, Texas. They married on January 25, 1953, and began married life in Huntsville, Texas, where Bubba finished his degree at Sam Houston State University and Joyce worked at the prison there. Bubba and Joyce eventually moved to Deer Park, Texas in 1958, where Bubba worked at Shell Oil Refinery and Joyce worked at DuPont.

After seven years of marriage, Joyce’s dream of becoming a mother was realized, and they quickly welcomed four children from 1960 to 1964. After their children began school, Joyce went back to school herself and earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Houston and a master’s degree from Prairie View A & M University. She taught first grade in Goose Creek ISD in Baytown, Texas, for 20 years and in her words, she “loved every minute!”

In 1991, Bubba and Joyce moved to their land in Donie, Texas, built their retirement home and joined the First Methodist Church in Groesbeck, Texas. Joyce was active in the Chancel choir, UMW, VBS, the after-school program Kid’s Club, and on numerous church committees. She participated in BSF, Bible Study Fellowship, for seven years and then became a children’s leader for that international organization. Joyce was also involved in prison Bible ministry as well as adult and child literacy.

Joyce’s greatest joy came from being “GiGi” to her seven grandchildren. She loved having them for long visits in the summer, making gifts with them for their parents, and teaching her only granddaughter how to read before kindergarten because the grandsons would rather be playing.

After Bubba’s passing, Joyce moved to Groesbeck to be closer to her church home and continued living there until she was unable to attend services due to mobility issues. In 2024, Joyce moved to an assisted living facility in Waxahachie to be closer to family. Joyce continued to share her faith with everyone she met, always had a smile on her face and always put others first.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her son-in-law, Larry Huff. She is survived by her daughter, Mimi Huff of Waxahachie; daughter and son-in-law, Keli and Mike McKissick of Pflugerville; daughter and son-in-law, Tami and Rick Schneider of Lake Forest, IL; and son, Mark LaGrone of Abilene; seven grandchildren: Dylan Mayfield, and wife, Jana, of Nemo; Chase McKissick of Pflugerville; Jared Urban of New York, NY; Devan Mayfield and wife, Nicole, of Waxahachie; Megan McKissick and fiancé, Justin Sandoval, of Austin; Clayton Schneider of Denver, CO; and Trevor Schneider of Champaign, IL; and five great granddaughters: Addison, Karis, and Lauren Mayfield, and Reese and Reagan Valley.

The family with receive friends at First Methodist Church from 1:00 – 2:00 PM on Friday, December 5, 2025, with a celebration of life service beginning at 2:00 PM with Pastor Ben Huebner officiating and burial will follow at Jewett City Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the staff at Buffalo Creek Assisted Living Facility, ClearSky Rehabilitation Hospital of Waxahachie, and Three Oaks Hospice – especially Nurse Julie.

In her lifetime, Joyce contributed to numerous charities. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to your favorite charity, Alzheimer’s Association: PO Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090 or the First Methodist Church of Groesbeck: PO Box 150, Groesbeck, TX 76642.