Gary Douglas Joyce, 87, of Huntsville, passed away peacefully on May 2, 2026. He graduated from Huntsville High School in 1956. On August 13, 1960, he married Joyce Askew which began a happy marriage of 67 years.
Gary graduated from Auburn University in 1964 with a business degree majoring in accounting. He began his career in Public Accounting with Coopers and Lybrand, then with Lehman Ullman & Barclay in Birmingham. In 1969 he moved his young family back to Huntsville where he worked for Johnson, Brown & Co., later becoming a partner forming the firm of Johnson, Joyce & Wiginton CPAs and remained until retiring in 1984. He then began a new career of residential building and developing in Huntsville, Madison, and Nashville.
He served on many boards helping to raise funds for various charities. He was a past president of the YMCA, the Madison County Auburn Alumni, and Huntsville-Decatur Chapter of CPAs. He was a long time Rotarian and was a member of the National Guard for eight years. Gary was active in his church, serving as Treasurer for 13 years, as well as various other leadership roles. He especially enjoyed his Cokesbury Sunday School Class and the Men’s Prayer breakfast. In 2022, he and Joyce moved to a Huntsville Retirement Community. He served on several committees and enjoyed activities there while meeting and making wonderful friends.
Gary enjoyed spending time with his family, and was a faithful husband, father, and son. His daughters adored him and he adored them more than they could ever know. Gary loved watching his grandsons play sports and growing into fine responsible men, Auburn football, traveling, golfing, reading, and visiting with his buddies.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce; daughters, Cheryl Joyce and Michelle Daymond (Phillip); brother, Bob Joyce (Gayle); grandsons, Charles Ashcraft III (Maggie), Gary-Michael Ashcraft (Kaylee), and Graham Ashcraft (Emily); step-grandchildren, Jessica Epp (Dillon), Stephanie Epp (Wyatt), and Drew Daymond; great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Gilmer Joyce and Vera Joyce Kramer.
Special thanks to the caregivers at Willowbrooke Court Skilled Nursing and Hospice Family Care. His family is very appreciative of the prayers and support of wonderful family and friends. Gary has donated his body to the UAB Anatomical Donor Program.
A celebration of his life will be held Friday, May 15, at Trinity United Methodist Church. The visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. with the service following at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Road, Huntsville, AL 35802, or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
