Joyce Blackburn Hart

Joyce Bernice Blackburn Hart, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2025, in Allen, Texas, at the age of 91. Joyce was a pillar of her family and community, known for her deep faith, boundless love, and unwavering dedication to serving others.

Joyce was born on July 4, 1933, in Madill, Oklahoma, to her devoted parents as an only child. Having grown up without the companionship of brothers or sisters, Joyce always dreamed of having a big family, believing it would be more fun to fill a home with laughter and play. At the age of five, Joyce faced a life-threatening bout of pneumonia, which led to a hospital stay where doctors warned her parents she might not survive. This early brush with mortality shaped her appreciation for life’s fragility and the importance of family. Joyce’s family moved several times during her childhood before their final move to Muleshoe, Texas, in 1948, where she graduated from Muleshoe High School.

After high school, Joyce attended the University of Texas, where she studied for 2½ years, laying the foundation for a journey of lifelong learning. On February 14, 1951, Joyce eloped with Edwin “Bob” Robert Hart, who would become her lifelong partner until his passing on April 28, 2009. Early in their marriage, while Bob was serving in the army, the couple lived in Columbus, Georgia. There, they formed lifelong friendships that played a significant role in Joyce’s spiritual growth.

Together, Joyce and Bob were wonderful, loving parents who instilled in their children the values of faith, hard work, and perseverance. Joyce passed on her deep love for Christ to her family, guiding them by example and praying for them daily. They supported their children through good times and bad. They ensured their children were either working or pursuing education, and their door was always open, offering a safe haven at any point in life.

Wherever Joyce lived, she sought out a church and a Bible study group, forming deep connections with fellow believers. She taught Bible studies and Sunday school, sharing her love for Scripture with others. In Dallas, she immersed herself in the theological community, attending Bible classes and furthering her education, eventually earning a Bachelor's degree from Tyndale Theological Seminary in 1991. Joyce also graded papers for prisoners, offering them encouragement and education through prison ministries, and she frequently counseled individuals facing hardships, drawing on her own experiences to provide comfort and guidance. Joyce is remembered for giving away books she believed could support others in their spiritual journeys.

Joyce was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Hart, her two sons, Bob Hart Jr. and Samuel “Sandy” Hart, her great-grandson, Andrew Catterton, and her daughter-in-law, Julie Hart.

 Her legacy lives on through her surviving children: Linda Catterton and husband Bill, Denise Smith and husband Mike, Bill Hart and wife Donna, David Hart and wife Tracy, and Jason Hart and wife Cynthia. Joyce was a cherished grandmother to 26 grandchildren: Candace Hart Melton, Matthew Hart, Kathryn Hart Park, Rebecca Hart, Carrie Hart Jones, Phillip Catterton, Hope Catterton Ellis, Christopher Hart, Michael Hart, Robert Hart, Chelsea Hart, Ryan Smith, Joshua Smith, Cody Smith, Carly Smith Exum, Jodi Hedgcoxe, Jessica Hart, Austin Hart, Savannah Hart, Brittany Hart, Molly Hart, Zachary Hart, Hanna Hart Pearlman, Jacob Hart, Madelyn Hart, and Hayden Hart. Joyce was also blessed with twenty-two great-grandchildren, some of whom affectionately called her “GG,” a beloved term of endearment.

For many years, her home, no matter the location, was a gathering place for family celebrations, filled with laughter, love, and cherished memories. Joyce’s faith, kindness, and gentle spirit touched everyone she met, leaving an indelible mark on her family and community.

A memorial service to celebrate Joyce’s life will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at Wilson-Orwosky Funeral Home, 803 N. Texas St., Emory, Texas, with a graveside service immediately following at Lake Fork Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice in Joyce’s memory.

Joyce’s legacy of love, faith, and selfless service will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew her.