Joyce Lucas McCall

Joyce (Lucas) McCall, 87, passed away peacefully in her home in McGregor, Texas on 28 January 2026.

A memorial service will be held on 2 May 2026 at Oakcrest Funeral Home at 1:00 p.m.

Born on May 2, 1938, the second of five children to Loyd B. Lucas and Anna Belle (Tennison) Lucas. She was her mother’s helper and her ‘daddy’s little girl’. She held a life-long beaming pride of his early career as a Waco Motorcycle Policeman. She graduated Waco High in 1956. Early childhood was spent with close friend Bobby Samet (Wachtel), who she remained in contact with until Bobby’s passing in 2022. She was a child at a time when children could wander and be safe, and she valued that independence.

Starting from the age of twelve, she earned her own money by babysitting. This started her down a path of self-sufficiency and independence as a teenager, by holding after school and summer jobs at Waco Recreation Dept., Woolswoth Five & Dime, and the Waco Theater. In high school, she chose her career as a secretary (administrative assistant). After graduation she briefly left Waco for a job in Amarillo using her skills as a secretary. She returned to Waco to work in the offices of several automotive dealerships before landing her permanent job at First Presbyterian Church in 1962. She retired as office manager from the church in 2003.

She married her husband, Robert Clark McCall in 1964. Always focused on her family’s future, she talked Bob into leaving his sales job at Hargis Co. in 1968 and joining the U.S. Post office as a letter carrier, where he remained until his retirement in 1997.

Joyce was very tidy, systematic, and highly organized, all of which seems to have vanished in subsequent generations. She was close to a perfectionist, but fortunately, could sacrifice that trait when the situation required. She liked routine, planning, and was a constant worrier, traits that did pass down. She loved her Saturdays, blasting the stereo at near full volume as she cleaned while Bob was at work. Her son’s Kiss and Led Zeppelin records could sometimes be found on her stereo, though no one knows how they got there.

Hiding things from her husband became an art-form. Coupled with good bookkeeping skills, and expert knowledge of how to finesse her ideas, would have made for a good fit in organized crime, if not for her ethics and high morals.

Joyce enjoyed caring for (and protecting) her family, camping, and later, traveling, especially on cruise liners and casinos, and many trips with her baby sister, who has often described her as the best big sister anyone could have. She especially loved her Alaskan cruise, a trip to Hawaii, and frequent trips to casinos at Elko, though she was not loose with her money. Later in life, she enjoyed weekly dominoes with her best friends Luci, Cathy, and sister-in-law Dede.

Her friendships were strong, as was her attachment to her pets. And everyone would agree that a Joyce “no” meant “no”.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Loyd and Anna Bell Lucas; husband, Robert McCall; sister-in-law, Dede Lucas; and brothers, Malton Lucas and James Lucas.

Joyce is survived by her son, Rick; grandson, Nathan; brother, Morris (Luke) Lucas; sister, Loy Lenamon; brother-in-law, Jerry Lenamon; beloved sister-in-law, Gloria Lucas (Malton’s widow); and her beloved cat, Tia.