Joyce (Lee) Braly of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Thursday, May 31, 2012, in the Blackwell Regional Hospital at the age of 84 years.

Joyce (Lee) Braly was born on October 2, 1927, in Blackwell to Harland A. and Ava M. (Shearer) Lee. She grew up in Blackwell and attended Blackwell Public Schools graduating in 1945. She furthered her education by attending William Woods College in Fulton, Missouri, where she pursued an intensive study of piano, organ and all phases of musical theory. She married Eugene M. Braly on November 24, 1946, in Blackwell and they made Blackwell their home. In 1947, she began a private teaching practice that lasted for over fifty years. She became an acclaimed teacher of piano, voice, trumpet and French horn for Blackwell and surrounding areas. During this time she accumulated a list of over four hundred students, accompanying them at contests, church or wherever needed. She was involved in church music in all areas, directing choirs and ensembles of all ages from adults to nursery children, directing “Jesus Loves Me” to the “Hallelujah Chorus.” She also served as organist and pianist as well as directing the congregation. Joyce taught Sunday School for twenty years and served at church wherever needed. She was an avid homemaker, the mother of seven children, taking part in each of their lives. She made eighteen quilts for her family, many afghans, knitted sweaters for grandchildren, all with the same perfection she required of herself in music. She was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Blackwell.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-five years, Eugene Braly of Blackwell; a brother, Orland Lee of Jenks, Oklahoma; two sisters, Donna Schumann of Florence, Massachusetts, and Elaine Keel of Bakersfield, California; four sons, Stephen Braly and wife Pam of Bedford, Texas, David Braly and wife Maria of Edmond, Oklahoma, Michael Braly and wife Leah of Ada, Oklahoma, and Mark Braly and wife Jana of Prosper, Texas; three daughters, Kathy Goodger and husband Gordon of Blackwell, Barbara Bell and husband Dan of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Beverly Wooderson and husband Steve of Blackwell; twenty-one grandchildren; and fourteen great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Monday, June 4th in the First Christian Church in Blackwell with the Rev. Matt Smith of Immanuel Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Olive Cemetery in Nardin.

Casketbearers will be Roger Clark, Charles Ray, Steve Royster, Larry Wyckoff, Paul Briggs and J. C. Estes.

A memorial has been established in her honor with the Immanuel Baptist Church Building Fund in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.