Joy Jean Gore Bruce died Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017, at The Blake in Oxford.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. with visitation from 2-3 p.m. with the Rev. Willie Weddle officiating. Burial followed at North Union Cemetery in Belfountaine.

Joy was born to Will Ab Gore and Rosa Lee Barton Gore in Walthall.  She was predeceased by her husband Jack Bruce.  She is survived by two sisters, Betty Jo Gore Wiseman of Oxford and Jimmy Rose Gore Murphy of Biloxi and many nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren and many cousins and long-time neighbors and friends of Webster and Choctaw County.

Jack’s employment with the U.S. Department of Transportation took them to Jackson and Vidalia, Louisiana for several years each and even on a two-year tour of the country, the couple always came back home as soon as possible. Eventually, they settled in the Bruce’s home place in Mathiston, and built a new home there upon retirement.

In Joy’s middle years, she took up bowling and soon won a tournament and the first prize of a new car. She bowled in leagues in Vidalia and Starkville in her last couple years of bowling. She was named Bowler of the Year several times and had one wall of bookshelves full of trophies. She was very devoted to family and was caretaker of parents. Joy will be greatly missed by family, friends and neighbors.