Mrs. Joyce Acheson Maki

Joyce Acheson Maki, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother; passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas, at the age of 81. Born on April 17, 1943, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Volney and Edwena Iley Acheson, Joyce lived a life full of love and grace.

Due to her father’s work, Joyce grew up in Venezuela until they moved back to the States in 1957 and settled in Denison, Texas where she graduated from high school. She attended Baylor University earning a Bachelor’s in Home Economics and a minor in Art, both of which she would use throughout the rest of her life.

Joyce’s career started as a Home Economist with the Lone Star Gas Company in Waco, where she represented 21 counties, teaching, creating and presenting school and adult programs about using gas appliances in both homes and businesses.

Her place of work is where she met her devoted husband, John. They married in 1967 and together celebrated over 57 years of marriage filled with travels and adventures all over the world.

Joyce’s family was her greatest joy and where she directed most of her passions. She was a substitute teacher in Biology, History, Spanish and Art; she established art programs for elementary schools; and she volunteered with the PTAs at all her children’s schools, earning the Texas PTA Honorary Life Membership Award.

When she wasn’t being her family’s biggest cheerleader, she loved to work on genealogy, a hobby she picked up from her parents. She loved finding fun and interesting stories and information about her ancestors through her research. She was also an amazing cook. She could create delicious meals just by throwing ingredients together.

Joyce is survived by her husband, John Maki; daughter, Catherine Reed (James); son, Alex Maki (Ceresa); and her cherished grandchildren, Caileigh and Jacob Reed (Hannah), and Josh and Ryan Maki.

Joyce's legacy of kindness, wisdom, unconditional love and creativeness will forever live on in the hearts of her family and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

In 2000, in memory of her father and the care he received, Joyce set up the Volney A. Acheson Endowment Fund at Scott & White in Temple, Texas to further educate those in the field of grief counseling. In lieu of flowers, you may make a gift online at ctxfoundation.bswhealth.com or by check, made payable to Baylor Scott & White, to BSW CTX Foundation, MS-20-S103, 2401 S. 31st Street, Temple, TX 76508.