Vera Joyce (Jones) Stainer, 88, passed away on March 17, 2023, in Rogers, Arkansas. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Carmine, TX. Joyce will be laid to rest at Carmine Cemetery.

Joyce was born in Jeff City, Oklahoma on September 24, 1934, to Charles and Juanita Jones. Her family moved quite a bit during her childhood, with her father following work opportunities mostly in Texas and Oregon. This gave her a sense of wanderlust and a love for travel that she kept her whole life. Joyce worked as a waitress in high end restaurants serving such celebrities as Ronald Reagan, Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride and numerous others.  She then got a job at Methodist Hospital in Houston and took nursing classes at San Jacinto College in Deer Park, Texas.  In 1974 she began her career as a Chemical Operator for Shell Oil Company where she was one of the few women brave enough and strong enough to do a “man’s job” and stand up to the opposition.  She stayed there nearly 20 years before retiring to Carmine.

Joyce was friendly and extroverted and she was the life of the party wherever she went. She could win over anyone with her wit and sense of humor. Joyce enjoyed life in Carmine, TX and made many friends. She was involved with the Red Hat Club, Lions Club, Homemakers club, and her dominoes groups. She was a member of Martin Luther Lutheran Church. Joyce was deeply proud of her membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Joyce was a loving and dedicated mother to her children Debi, Kelly, and Rhonda. She had a special love for her grandchildren. For Joyce, being “Grandma” or “Gram” was such an important role that she became known as “Grandma” to everyone in the family. Joyce had an impressive memory and was the family historian.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband of 27 years, Jessie Ray Stainer, son-in-law John Swartz, and grandson John Swartz Jr., grandson Jimmy Murphy, great granddaughter Silvia Seleste Butler, parents Charlie and Juanita Jones, siblings Sonny Jones and Charlene Bennett.

Joyce’s surviving loving family includes Debi Swartz, Kelly Butler (wife Rexanna), and Rhonda Eaves (husband Dave); grandchildren David Harris, Paul Harris. Anne Clark, Uriah Butler, Jaysen Butler, Chuck Murphy, Brian Murphy, Steven Butler, Justyn Bearden, and Kelli Bearden; 15 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; sisters Louise Epps and Marceta Pirtle; brother John Jones.

If you’d like to make a contribution in memory of Joyce, please consider a donation to Wounded Warrior Project or Leukemia & Lymphoma Society,  or for those who desire, to Martin Luther Lutheran Church.

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A church representative will be available in the hour before the service to receive memorial gifts to MLLC.  Additionally, gifts to MLLC may be sent by mail to the church, delivered in person, given at worship through an offering envelope, or give through the secure giving page of our web site.  Here is a link to that page:  click link.  On the page where you select where to give and how much, note there is a line for “Memorial Gifts.”  This is the 4th line down on the secure giving page.  Included is a memo box.  Note in that box, “Joyce Stainer,” and the gift will be passed along to the right account.

Thank you for gifts of any amount in  memory of your friend or loved one.

The church address for mailing memorial gifts is:

Martin Luther Lutheran Church

P O BOX 362

Carmine, TX 78932-0362

Telephone: 979-278-3388