Joyce Countess Boone, formerly of Brownwood, TX, passed away on March 27, 2021 at the age of 77. In her final months, Joyce exemplified the phrase “Texas Tough” as she battled Parkinson’s Disease and its many challenges with an unmatched combination of grace, strong will and fierce independence. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 9, 2021, at Davis-Morris Funeral Home in Brownwood. Pastor Bill Slaymaker will officiate. A private burial will take place at Greenleaf Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at Davis-Morris Funeral Home.
Joyce was born in McKinney, TX on November 20, 1943 to William Steve and Sylvia Noreen (Yarbrough) Countess. She grew up on a farm near Idalou, TX and graduated from Idalou High School in 1962 where she excelled in multiple sports and cheerleading. Joyce attended West Texas State University in Canyon, TX before she married Edward (Eddie) Harold Boone and began their family. Together they had a daughter, Gina Diane, and a son who died in infancy, Edward Corey.
Her husband’s career with GTE led them to live in many cities throughout Louisiana and Texas, and ultimately brought them to Brownwood, TX in 1979. While living in Brownwood, Joyce was active in numerous groups and community organizations such as the Brownwood Women’s Club, Brownwood Garden Club, Bridge Club, and Friends of Rotary, to name a few. Her sweet tooth combined with her love of baking often resulted in holiday meals with more desserts than people, a dilemma enjoyed by those in attendance. Joyce loved the home that she and Eddie built in the country, and she spent much of her free time caring for the goats they raised and the numerous rose bushes that made their yard so beautiful. She remained in Brownwood after her husband’s passing in 2013, and moved to Columbia, MO in 2016 to be closer to her daughter. She never tired of telling everyone in Missouri that she was a Texan.
Survivors include her daughter Gina (Boone) Gervino and husband Chris of Columbia, MO; her brother William (Bill) Countess and wife Joan of San Angelo, TX; five nephews, Mark and Kipper Countess of Tuscan, AZ, Chad Countess and wife Jann of San Angelo, TX, and Matthew and Spencer Countess of Lafayette, LA; and three great nieces Audrey, Elise and Abigail Countess of San Angelo, TX. Joyce was preceded in death by her infant son, Corey, her husband Eddie, her brother John Thomas Countess, and her parents Steve and Norene Countess.
Memorial gifts may be sent by mail to the Brown County Humane Society (d/b/a Corrine T. Smith Animal Center) at 3016 Milam Drive, Brownwood, TX 76801 or the Columbia Parkinson’s Group at 1311 Vintage Drive, Columbia, MO 65203.
