PRIEST RIVER

Joyce I. Lunceford, 94, passed away peacefully at home on the evening of December 8th, 2025.

Joyce was born on July 21,1931, in Plain Dealing, Louisiana, to John and Willie English, joining brother W.J. and sister Bernice.

On July 3,1948, Joyce married Paul Lunceford in Bossier City, Louisiana. Paul was in the Air Force for 26 years. Together, they traveled to many bases in the United States and overseas, including time in Spain and Japan. Paul retired in 1972, and they returned to Plain Dealing. Joyce and Paul were avid bass fishers and competed in many tournaments. They had an RV and loved making an annual trek to N. Idaho to visit family. Accompanying them on several of their trips were Mildred & Calvin Carter and Bobbie & Robert Gardner, also of Plain Dealing.

When they visited in the summer of 1984, Grandpa said Grandma cried all the way home, having to leave her newborn grandson and favorite granddaughters.

In the spring of 1985, they put their house on the market. It sold immediately, so they loaded up and relocated to Priest River for good. They rented a house in town while their home on Bodie Canyon was built.

Once relocating to Priest River, Joyce became very active in several churches, most recently the Laclede Community Church. She worked at the Sugar Plum with Grace Moore, Carol Young, and Sadie Jones. After 8.5 years, when Carol and Grace decided to retire in 1996, Joyce took over the business, and she and Sadie worked together for a few more years before eventually selling the business. Joyce worked with Sherry at Office Services for several years. She worked at PR Medical Clinic, volunteered at the Oldtown food bank, volunteered with tax preparation through AARP at the Priest River library, and was a board member for the VFW Auxiliary Post 2909 in Priest River.

Joyce is survived by her daughter Sherry and husband Joe Mundy, grandchildren Wenona and husband Duane Jones, Lisbeth Mundy and husband Nathan Clark, Joe Mundy and wife Jessica Henderson, great-grandchildren Fallon Henderson, Makayla Mundy, Arthur Clark, and Jordan Mundy. She is also survived by her niece Judy Wooten and family of Louisiana, nephew Mark Esterer and wife Margaret, niece Laura Cox and nephew Glen Esterer, all of Texas.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Paul, in 2001.

At her request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Union Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 4066, Spokane, WA 99220-0066.

This was an organization Joyce donated to on a regular basis.

Our dad was the best caretaker for Grandma, taking her to and from all appointments when she reluctantly gave up driving. He visited her multiple times a day, cooked for her, and kept her a never-ending supply of apple fritters.