Catherine Joyce Wagley

A Blessed Legacy. Catherine Joyce Thompson Wagley was born on November 5, 1933 in Baton Rouge, LA as the first of four children to her loving parents, Harry and Edna Thompson. After graduating from Saint Anthony High School she would become part of the first graduating class of Our Lady of the Lake Nursing College. Soon after she would marry her beloved husband of 53 years, Freeland Wagley, who preceded her in death on August 26, 2008. During her career of professional service as a nurse mom also embraced other roles as a committed and faithful wife, mom, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and a friend to many. Known as Joyce by her friends she was the true definition of a Southern Belle. Her life's main focus was on her family, passionately devoted to caring for all those for whom she loved. While she enjoyed getting dressed up for a special occasion, mom mostly loved time at the "Camp" fishing with her husband Freeland and sons. Many times she was awake in the early morning hours before daylight with a fresh pot of coffee to see Rodney or her other boys off to go fishing, giving them a hug and saying y'all be safe. Mee Mee also spent many hours at the ballpark watching all of her kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren playing sports. She was a fixture at various motocross racetracks watching her youngest son, Richard, compete. Mom could shop until she dropped. Especially with her daughter Cathy, daughters-in-law, granddaughters and great-granddaughters. Perhaps one of her greatest attributes was being an excellent cook who provided the finest of southern Louisiana fare for family and friends. Many were blessed by her extraordinary cooking and hospitality. Indeed, her seafood gumbo, potato salad, fried chicken, and cornbread dressing was nothing short of world class and considered a delicacy by all. Miss Joyce was known to have an open-door policy to all the neighbors in her neighborhood. She was a humble yet fearless matriarch of Cedar Glen Drive. Everyone loved her as they knew she loved others while treating them with kindness and respect in her nursing and personal relationships. She was indeed a real model of a Proverbs 31 godly wife and mother. She liked to go places and was always up for a road trip, dining out with family or friends and never tiring of doing things with those close to her heart. The fact is mom never met a stranger and conversed easily with her keen gift of gab. Her laugh came easily and spontaneously as there was almost always a smile on her face. Her affection for others extended to her pets through the years. Especially as a dog lover she wouldn't hesitate to share a bowl of ice cream or a cup of coffee with her feisty little Jack Russell Terrier, Beau. But her happiest moments were with family including her children and their spouses; Robert and Peggy Wagley, Rodney, Randy and Lisa Wagley, Richard and Debbie Wagley, Cathy and Gerald Rodgers, her beloved Grandchildren and Spouses, Wade Wagley, David Wagley, Elizabeth and Peter Cleek, Christine and Adam Drigger, Stephen Wagley, Karen and Christian Vige, Daniel Freeland Wagley, Luke and Ali Wagley, Kaycee and Jeff Martrain, Tiffanee and Ken Cornett, Whitnee and Shane Vidrine, Garrett Rodgers, Shelbee and Ben Sowders, her great-grandchildren, Garrett, Bryn, Adelynn, Emerson, Caden, Sterling, Alexander, Daniel, Fiona, Jaxon, Sophia, Rhyder, Lincoln, Hudson, and Maizee. Also her brothers and sister and their spouses, Patsy and Sonny Spiller, Chuck and Josie Thompson and Harry Thompson. She fought a good fight and finished her life of loving commitment to family, friends and Redeemer in this world during the early morning hours of July 21, 2021, lovingly attended and embraced by her faithful daughter and granddaughter, Cathy Wagley Rodgers and Shelbee Sowders. We wish to thank those nurses, doctors and care providers who also attended to mom while in the hospital and through the years. Especially to Cathy and Gerald Rogers, her only son-in-law, where mom lived for the past eight years providing kind and relentless care. We are eternally grateful and thank God for their commitment. A private service will be held for family at Greenoaks Cemetery located at 9595 Florida Blvd. on Monday, July 26 at 9:30 am. You may call Greenoaks at (225) 925-5331 for further information.