Joyce Charlene Mueller Harvey

Joyce Charlene Mueller Harvey was the youngest of six children born to Charlie and Agnes (Bucek) Mueller in the small farming town of Runge, Texas on December 27, 1930, and she slipped peacefully into her Heavenly home on June 23, 2025. Joyce was a Christian and a member of First Baptist Church of DeRidder, Louisiana. The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6: 9-13, was one of her favorite passages, and she enjoyed reciting it with Dana and Joycelyn.

The Great Depression had a significant impact on Joyce’s family as her hometown experienced economic hardship due to its reliance on agriculture. With a passionate work ethic, young Joyce contributed to the family’s meager income selling fresh butter to local residents. She took pride in her ability to help her large family, and at 14-years of age, she was employed at the community beauty shop to sweep and clean. It was her pleasure to be able to purchase a cool cream soda and rush home to share the extravagant treat with her mother. Following a devastating tornado which destroyed the family farm, the Mueller family moved into town. A strong athlete at Runge High School, Joyce participated in basketball and softball. She was honored to be chosen as the 1948 Harvest Queen, and proudly represented her high school.

While on a seismographic oil exploration job, Dan Harvey, stopped at a gas station for fuel, and met a lovely, young lady who quickly won his heart. A whirlwind courtship led to a wedding on January 29, 1949, and with Dan newly drafted into the United States Army, the newlyweds began a life together. From Crystal City, Texas to Santa Barbara, California, and including many other cities, the couple adjusted to married life over the next two years. With army life behind them, Joyce and Dan settled down in the Valley around Brownville, Texas. It was here that they combined their past knowledge of farming and livestock for the purpose of making a living.

The decision to move to Louisiana brought Joyce and Dan to a piece of land with a pecan orchard in Knight Community - the Murray Place. Country living at its finest! Joyce’s pet turkeys accompanied her in the move, and she was a tad offended when surrounding neighbors viewed her sweet turkeys as a possible meal instead of family pets.

In 1959, a house was built in Knight Community that would remain the family home for the next 66 years. Homelife was content, but something was missing – Joyce had fervently prayed for a child. Her prayers were answered in a comical way during a doctor’s appointment. Having experienced some discomfort and weight gain, she feared a tumor had developed in her abdomen. Her doctor jokingly informed her that she had a crying tumor, and to simply wait a few months for its arrival.

Motherhood suited Joyce as she left her job to raise Dana until she started school. Being a stay-at-home mother did not mean that Joyce stopped working, it simply meant that she remained home and worked tirelessly on the farm tending to livestock and poultry. With Dana toddling around, Joyce laid the ground work for the next generation of a Harvey farmer.

An office position in shipping on Fort Polk provided Joyce with an opportunity to gain more business knowledge and she was instrumental in Dan’s pursuit of a career in finance. Joyce’s career as a realtor and later a broker began with Joyce Harvey Real Estate. Hard work and determination helped her small business grow and succeed in the town of DeRidder. Dan started Dana Finance, and together, their professions expanded from the late 1970s and into the late 1990s. Joyce was never too busy for a new adventure, and upon realizing a need for reliable transportation for individuals traveling to and from work outside Beauregard Parish, J & J Used Cars was established. It was her pleasure to serve as president of Toledo Bend Board of Realtors.

The Harvey family was delighted to be members of the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association. Joyce was a founding member of The Cowbells, an organization in Beauregard Parish which included wives of the local cattlemen. Joyce served as chairperson of the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Livestock Show held in Lake Charles. The following year, she chaired the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Queen’s Contest in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For her diligent service in recruiting the largest number of new members for that particular year, the Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association recognized her efforts with several outstanding gifts. Ironically, since it was a cattlemen’s club, the tokens of appreciation included: a belt buckle, cowboy hat, and a huge man’s jacket. With a smile on her face, she thanked the organization and readily accepted the thoughtful gifts. Recently, the Beauregard Parish Cattlemen’s Association honored Joyce with an appreciation plaque for her ongoing lifetime commitment to the organization.

When fire destroyed the building of Mount Carmel Baptist Church in August 1999, Joyce served as committee chairperson to rebuild after the destruction. The building that stands today is largely due to her time, effort, and dedication 25 years ago. She started a prayer group in later years at Mount Carmel allowing members to provide comfort during trying times.

During Dan’s illness, Joyce added caregiver to her many tasks at work and on the farm. Due to sickness, her sister, Arlene, moved in for medical care, too. Expect the unexpected – Joyce would push Dan’s wheelchair while managing her frail sister on a walker. She did it all with love in her heart for her loved ones. Immediately following Dan’s funeral, was anyone really surprised to see Joyce hop into the driver’s seat of the hearse and drive Dan to his final resting place at Hinson Cemetery?

With the sale of her business, Joyce relinquished the cattle to Dana but still helped out on the farm. She kept her real estate license up to date and managed her properties. As years passed, she kept busy with land development, rental properties, and even found time to write an e-book, My Health and Me.

In February 2018, a beautiful baby girl was welcomed in the Harvey home, and Joyce accepted her new role as grandmother with elation. Joycelyn Brooke was lovingly named after her Nana. When Dana’s early labor and delivery kept her hospitalized on the day of the baby shower, Joyce stepped in and made the shower a huge success. A wonderful time was had by all in attendance as Joyce opened gifts in Dana’s place.

A legacy has been left for Dana, Joycelyn, and all future generations of Joyce’s family to appreciate and use as a guide in life. From poverty to prosperity, a strong work ethic drove Joyce to always strive for more. Her humble beginnings shaped the savvy businesswoman we all knew. Retirement never fit into Joyce’s plans! She stayed busy – in mind, body, and soul. She tackled daily exercise and activities with a passion. A journal was kept to keep her mind engaged and her spirit lively. Afterall, it was just last summer that Joyce was raking hay and caught the field on fire …

Those left to cherish her memory are her loving daughter and granddaughter; Dana Joycelyn and Joycelyn Brooke of DeRidder, LA., Brother-In-Law; John Harvey of Knight, LA., and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She is Preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 52 years Dan Harvey, and her siblings.

A funeral Service will be held at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in DeRidder, LA., on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 11:00pm., Brother Paul Moore will officiate the service. A visitation will be held on Thursday June 26, 2025, from 5:00pm until 9:00pm at Myers Colonial Funeral Home. Visitation will continue Friday from 9:00am until the start of the service at Mt. Carmel Church in DeRidder, LA.

Pallbearers: John “Kenny” Harvey, Patrick Harvey, Mike Harvey, Jared Allardyce, Charnel Bailey, Ethan Jeane, Steve Tingle, and Keith Walker.

Honorary Pallbearers: William “Bill” Loftin, John C. Harvey, and Steve Delia.

The family would like to thank family, friends, and neighbors for their support over the last couple of weeks. All the prayers and kind words are very appreciated.

Her embodied love, resilience, and compassion will be profoundly missed by her family and all who had the privilege to know her. May her memory be a blessing to us all.