Sarah Joyce Puckett, Joyce to all who knew her, was born on May 18, 1928, to Joseph C. Taylor and Della Raines Taylor at Dustin, Oklahoma and passed away Friday, July 1, 2022, at the age of 94. Joyce attended Dustin schools and graduated high school as salutatorian. During those later years she worked at Oscar Cook's drugstore and during one summer Joyce worked for Parrish and Clark Dodge in Tulsa.

Mutual friends introduced Joyce to Allen R. Puckett in Dustin. They fell in love, eloped, and were married in Holdenville on November 18, 1946. In November of 2017, they celebrated 71 years of marriage and 57 years of living in Holdenville. During their married lives, Allen and Joyce lived in many places across the south central United States. They started out with Allen working at Tinker Air Force Base. Then, a move to Okmulgee for Allen to study auto mechanics at the technical school there. He later became an expert heavy equipment operator. Following work projects was the catalyst for their moving to Portales, New Mexico, Eufaula, Alabama, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Corpus Christi, Texas, Chickasha, Wetumka, Hydro, Tonkawa and finally Holdenville.

In Holdenville, Joyce worked at Elliston's Grocery until it burned in approximately 1970.

Joyce was a devoted member of Calvary Baptist Church, where her ministry was to play the piano for 54 years. She had many friends there and truly loved the Lord.
Joyce and Allen lived out their years in Holdenville seeing their children graduate from HHS, gardening, caring for grandchildren, and hosting endless happy family meals.

Joyce is predeceased by her parents, five siblings: Maurice, Vermetta, George, Joe, Jr., and June. Also, two children, Susan Gayle Puckett and John David Puckett.
She is survived by four siblings: Aileen Taylor of Alma, Arkansas, Gayle Henry of Wichita, Kansas, Evelyn Harmon of Tulsa, Curtis Taylor and wife Patsy of Ridgecrest, California; three children: Gregory Lynn Puckett and wife Sharron Smith Puckett of Broken Arrow, Carol Puckett Irby and husband Robert L. Irby, Jr. of Holdenville, and son Danny Allen Puckett of Greenville, Texas.

Also surviving are seven grandsons: Robert L. Irby, III and wife, Candice Irby of Holdenville, Daman Allen Irby and wife, Melissa Irby of Gordonsville, Virginia, David Alan Puckett, Scott Louis Puckett and wife Thi Nguyen, and James Gregory Puckett, all of Broken Arrow, Derek Puckett and wife Ashley of Holdenville and Chase Puckett of Earlsboro. In addition, there are ten great-grandchildren: Hayden Irby, Hudson Irby, Reagan Irby, Scarlett Irby, Daphne Irby, Amelia Puckett, Augustine Puckett, Lane Puckett, Logan Puckett, and Mason Puckett.

Funeral services are to be held at the Holdenville Cemetery Chapel at 2:00 on Saturday, July 9, 2022, with interment immediately following.

Pallbearers are Trey Irby, James Puckett, Derek Puckett, Mark Jones, Steven Puckett, and Mark Olney.

Honorary pallbearers are Daman Irby, David Puckett, Scott Puckett, Chase Puckett and Mike Sherrin.