After a long battle with cancer, surrounded by family and her beloved dog, Baxter, Joyce Gildea peacefully joined the love of her life Louis, on November 7, 2017.

Joyce Imogene Gildea was born on February 20, 1931 in Agra, Oklahoma, to Erven William and Maida Marie (Merritt) Gosnell. As a child, the family moved to Garden City, Kansas. She attended Garden City Public Schools where she graduated and later attended Garden City Junior College. She met and married Billy Dean Rand on July 31, 1954, after he was discharged from the Navy on July 16, 1954. She always said her greatest accomplishment was the birth of her children, daughter, Kim Rand of Tonkawa, Oklahoma and son, Greg Rand of Ponca City, Oklahoma.
As a widower, she later moved to Blackwell, Oklahoma. She was employed at Pollyanna Dress Shop where her "fashionista" gene developed her art for shopping. Later, she became Office Manager for Hahn Brothers Memorial where she met and later married the love of her life, Louis Gildea, on February 18, 1978. That union included the joyous addition of three children: Ted Gildea and his wife Gail of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, Nancy Scott and her husband Victor of Plano, Texas, and Darcy Gildea and her husband Greg of Columbia Falls, Montana. She later worked for Hometown Realty in Blackwell before retiring in 1992 to travel with Louis while he engraved monuments for the family business.

They shared a passion for dancing, golfing, reading, and crossword puzzles. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Blackwell and past member of American Business Women's Association, holding many offices including President.

Her greatest joy and pride came from her grandchildren, Cherody Janda of Ponca City, Heath Miller of Enid, Ian Rand and wife Lacey of Ponca City, Mary Rand of Orlando, Florida, Isaac Rand of Ponca City, Aaron Gildea and wife Jenna of Jacksonville, Florida, and Jesse Gildea and wife Chrystal of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; her great-grandchildren, Brexten and Brensen Janda of Ponca City, Braeley Durham and husband Kurtis of Ponca City, Tyler and David Gildea of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and Ethan Gildea of Jacksonville, Florida; and great-great-grandson Camden Durham of Ponca City.

She is survived by her daughters, sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a great-great grandson.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Louis, her parents and eleven brothers and sisters.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1:00p.m., Monday, November 13th in the Roberts and Son Funeral Home Chapel with James W. Roberts III officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in her honor with Hospice of North Central Oklahoma in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.