Tommy Leigh Joyce

Funeral services will held Thursday, Sept. 15, at Ourso Funeral Home in Gonzales for Tommy Leigh Joyce, 62, of Prairieville. Joyce passed away at his Prairieville home early Tuesday. The son of Murraye D. Joyce and the former Tommie Williams Joyce, Tommy Joyce was born in Tyler, Texas, on Dec. 15, 1948, where he attended elementary school. His family then moved to Gueydan, where he graduated from Gueydan High School in 1967. Joyce attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana, where he became a member of the Air Force ROTC and Theta Xi fraternity. Upon graduation from USL in 1971, Joyce married his childhood sweetheart Marlene LeBlanc of Lafayette. The couple moved to Little Rock, where Joyce achieved the rank of captain and served as a pilot and instructor in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, receiving numerous commendations and medals. Upon leaving active duty, the Joyces moved to Sulphur where they reared a family of four children. Joyce enjoyed a successful career as a manager at Powell Lumber, where he received the Powell Leadership Award. He later became owner and general manager of Baskin Robbins, twice earning the franchise's 31 Club honor. He then became an owner and general manager of Port Printing, founder and first CEO of the KaleidoScoops ice cream franchises, and more recently as owner and general manager of Tommy's Printing and Promotional Items of Sulphur and Baton Rouge. Joyce was an avid community leader and volunteer. He served as a director of the Boy Scout council, served numerous years as board member and trustee of Our Lady's School in Sulphur, was regional and state director of the American Red Cross, was president of the Young Men's Business Club and a two-time recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award. He was founder of the Louisiana National Air Show, a board member of the March of Dimes, and a member of the Sulphur Rotary Club. Joyce served as president of the Buccaneers and was chosen to be Jean Lafitte of Contraband Days in 1985. More recently, Joyce was a member of the North Ascension Rotary Club, president and regional director of Business Network International and a member of the Ascension Parish Leadership Council. Joyce earned an MBA from McNeese State University in 1983 and was a lifelong supporter of Cowboy athletics as a board member of the Quarterback Club, member of the Tip Off Club and well-known among Cowboy fans as a Chalet sponsor. Joyce is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marlene LeBlanc Joyce; brother, Mark Joyce, of Houston; two sons, Chad Joyce, of Prairieville and Jason Joyce and his wife, Caroline, of Baton Rouge; two daughters, Kimberly Joyce McLaughlin and her husband, Nathan McLaughlin, of Geismar and Aimee Joyce Bellue and her husband, Trey, of Slaughter; four grandsons, Logan McLaughlin, Cade Carver, Camden Carver and Casen Carver; and two granddaughters, Baleigh Bellue and Isabelle Bellue. Preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Murraye Joyce. Visitation at Ourso Funeral Home, Gonzales, Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. until funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Oak Lane Memorial Park, Prairieville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Louisiana Red Cross. Please visit www.oursofh.com to sign the guest book.