Joyce Goode Stepler passed away on May 3, 2012. She was born on March 5, 1942, in LaPlata, Maryland, the daughter of the late John and Virginia Goode of Marbury, Maryland. She is survived by her husband, Sam, her son, John Crowley of Dallas, Texas, her daughter, Noelle Crowley, granddaughter, Chrissy Crowley of Plano, Texas, and her stepson David Allred of Montgomery, Alabama. She is also survived by her brother Dennis Goode of Staunton, Virginia, her sister Janet Fritsche of New Waverly, Texas, and her sister Jane Rye of Marbury, Maryland.
From birth to age 12, Joyce lived in Pisgah, Maryland, and from age 12 to 18 in Marbury, Maryland, with her parents and siblings. She attended Lackey High School, graduating in 1960. During 1962 she worked for Congressman Sam Devine (R-OH). From 1963 to 1964 she worked as a legal secretary at Atlantic Research Corp. in Alexandria, Virginia. In January 1966 she married James W. Crowley and was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom to John and Noelle. They moved to Dallas, Texas, in 1970.
In 1981, after a divorce, she worked as an administrative assistant to the President of Lakeview Properties and in 1985 to Sr. Vice President for the Registry Hotel Corporation, later she worked as owner/manager of a construction company, and in 1986 as administrative assistant in the Dallas office of Korn/Ferry International. In recent years, she worked as an editor on several books for author Charlene Maxfield.
In 1995 she married Sam Stepler who shared her love of the seashore and sailing. They made their home first in Dallas, and later she enjoyed furnishing and decorating a new home they built in Plano, Texas. Their greatest joy came when granddaughter Chrissy was born, spending their time doting on her. Joyce dealt with many health issues during her later years, finally succumbing to her battle with Mesothelioma Lung Cancer.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, May 6, 2012, in the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Chapel. The family will receive friends during a visitation beginning at 7:00 p.m., Saturday evening at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. A funeral service at Williams Funeral Home in Indian Head, Maryland with interment at Park Hill Cemetery in Marbury, Maryland will be held at a later date.