Joyce M. (Griffin) Burgess of Antlers, Oklahoma went to be with the Lord on August 4, 2025 at the age of 87 in Oklahoma City at Mercy Hospital.

Joyce was born in McAlester, Oklahoma in 1938 and grew up in Atoka, Oklahoma. During her childhood in Atoka, Joyce showed a talent for ballet and had an opportunity to study ballet seriously in Chicago. However, it would have meant moving away from her family so she made the decision to finish schooling in Atoka, where she graduated high school in 1954.

Joyce then attended Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma for a time. From there, Joyce moved to Oklahoma City where she lived at the YWCA and worked downtown. It was at this time that Joyce met her future husband, Coy Burgess, through one of there mutual friends.

Joyce and Coy married April 1, 1960. The following year they welcomed their first child, daughter Kim. They eventually ended up in Edmond, Oklahoma where they welcomed their second child, son Jay. After a time, the family moved back to Coy's hometown of Antlers where Joyce helped him start his CPA practice.

It was during this time when Joyce made lifelong friends. She enjoyed living in a close-knit neighborhood where she was within walking distance of so many good friends. Joyce was a member of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha women's sorority, working to contribute to their small community.

In 1982, the family moved back to Oklahoma City for Coy's job. During this time, Joyce kept busy by volunteering with Free To Live Animal Sanctuary. She often joked she enjoyed the company of dogs to people, adopting a couple of dogs herself.

After many years in Oklahoma City, Joyce and Coy retired to Antlers where both were longtime members of the First Baptist Church. She joined her friends in the Twentieth Century Women's Club as well as a bridge club where Joyce and her friends would play bridge and visit with each other for hours several afternoons a week.

While living in Antlers, Joyce loved going on girl's trips with her friends. Joyce was also an avid reader with many bookshelves full of books that she had read. She much preferred reading to watching movies.

Joyce was a Mimi to four grandsons and one granddaughter. All of whom loved going to Mimi and Poppy's house and getting spoiled. She was a ray of sunshine in the lives of her five grandkids. She cherished them dearly, as they did her. The grandchildren fondly recall stories of summers and Christmases spent in Antlers with Mimi, who knew how to make each visit more delightful and special than the last.

Joyce is preceded in death by her husband Coy Burgess and her parents Susie and Cecil Griffin. She is survived by her children Kim and Jeff McClendon and Jay Burgess of Edmond. SHe is also survived by five grandchildren of whom she loved and is very proud, Christian McClendon, as well as Ford, Jett, Beck, and Scout Burgess.

Joyce will be greatly missed by everyone she leaves behind, but we all have hope and joy in her new life.

Celebration of life for Joyce will be held at 11 AM Saturday August 9, 2025 at the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Antlers, Oklahoma with Brent Franks officiating.

Services are entrusted with Serenity Funeral Service in Antlers, Oklahoma.