Joyce Ann Braus

Joyce Ann the Good, loving wife and mother, passed away on January 31, at the age of 84. Joyce was born in Goose Creek (Baytown), Texas to Emil and Anne Pauler. She enjoyed ballet from her very early years through high school. She played the clarinet and was a twirler for the Robert E. Lee High School Ganders in Baytown. She graduated in 1954. In 1954, she married George Allen West. Over the next several years she became a homemaker and mother to four rambunctious kids, setting up households in Baytown, TX; Hawthorne, NY; Westminster, CA; Odessa, TX and Kingwood, TX, ultimately settling in Kingwood. Joyce was an avid cook and gardener. She volunteered as a Candy Striper and for the Mercer Botanical Arboretum, and was a major benefactor to the Czech Cultural Center, Alzheimer’s Association, and numerous other charities. She worked for Howe-Baker International and Getty Oil Companies and loved her job, co-workers, and carpool buddies.

In 1981 she married James Braus and became a mother to six additional children, running a revolving door household. Traveling became her and Jim’s passion. Between trips around the globe, she and Jim attended family births, birthdays, graduations, weddings, ball games, recitals, and much more in the lives of her 10 children, 14 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. “Granny” was so very proud of all her family’s accomplishments.

Joyce is preceded in death by her sweet, loving husband Jim (who coined her title “Joyce Ann The Good”) and son Kirk West of Houston. She is survived by her brother Mike Pauler and wife Cindy of Portsmouth, VA; son Mark West of Hollywood, FL; daughters Kelly Baker (Micky) of Robert Lee, TX; Robyn Grindel (Mark) of The Woodlands, TX; step-children Joan Regnier (Steve) of Houston, TX; Sharon Stryjewski (Michael) of Spring, TX; Paula Meyers (Gene) of Montgomery, TX; John Braus of San Marcos, TX; David Braus of Spring, TX; and Linda Antcliff (Chris) of El Paso, TX. She is also survived by grandchildren Jordan Alexander, Katherine Antcliff, Matthew Antcliff, Amanda Attaway, Jacob Baker, Karen Cecalek, Elizabeth Colville, Jaime Fleck, Michael Grindel, Lauren Simpson, Danielle Spake, Laura Stryjewski, Leah Stryjewski and Lisa Stryjewski.

Joyce’s incredible heart and compassion provided her an army of friendships, and she always exhibited impeccable style and grace. She will be missed beyond measure.

Services will be held Friday, February 12th at 11:00 AM, St. Martha’s Catholic Church. The funeral Mass will be livestreaming at the following link: https://stmartha.com/livestream Donations in Joyce’s honor may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the charity of your choice.