Dr. Joseph “Joe” R. Joyce passed away peacefully at home on June 10, 2026, with his beloved family by his side. Born on July 21, 1938, in Alice, Texas, Joe was raised by Lillian K. and Thomas F. Joyce in a military family whose assignments took them around the world, including Austria and Guam. It was among the mountains and rivers of Austria that he discovered a lifelong love of hunting and fishing, studying by correspondence so he could devote more time to them.

Joe graduated from San Marcos High School in 1956 and put himself through Texas A&M University, earning a bachelor's degree in Animal Science while working at the university's swine center and horse barn. A member of the animal and meat judging teams, he helped Texas A&M win several national championships. After six months in the Army, Joe began his professional career as Assistant County Extension Agent in Nueces County, Texas. There, he led numerous 4-H programs, discovering a gift for mentoring young people. It was there, too, that he met the love of his life, Jeanelle Ripple, whom he married on June 13, 1962, and cherished for 64 wonderful years.

He returned to Texas A&M to earn his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1968, then joined the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine, where he would remain for the next 39 years. Texas A&M held a very special place in Joe’s heart, and he often said, "A&M has been very good to me." Joe’s expertise lay in teaching veterinary students how to safely and effectively work with large animals, particularly horses and cattle. His gift for mentorship and teaching earned him several teaching awards, including the Distinguished Achievement Teaching Award in 2002. He was also a renowned veterinary ophthalmologist and cryosurgeon. Later in his career, Joe was especially proud to lead the functional design of the new large animal hospital at Texas A&M.

Outside of work, Joe remained an avid hunter and fisherman and excelled at raising English Pointer bird dogs. He found joy in tending a large garden, generously sharing its produce with friends and neighbors. He set aside time daily to coach his son Jim’s Little League teams and work on his daughter Sharon’s tennis game. He was known for his storytelling and loved to share tales with anyone who would listen.

Joe’s influence lives on in the generations of veterinarians shaped by his teaching, and in the family, friends, students, and colleagues who knew his generosity, practical wisdom, distinctive humor, and love of the outdoors.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Gayle Haggerty, and her son Matthew. He is survived by his loving wife, Jeanelle; his son, Jim, and his wife Amy; his daughter, Sharon, and her husband Steven Trujillo; and his granddaughter Ella Symm. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews, J.R., Tom, Sean, Beth Dowling, and Nan Haggerty; and by his cousins Mary (Kulchak) Koffend, Ken Kulchak, and Melissa Kulchak. A private service will be held at a later date.

To honor Joe's legacy, an endowed veterinary scholarship is being established to support future generations of rural veterinarians. Donations may be made to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840. Please designate gifts as "In Memory of Joseph R. Joyce, DVM '68 Endowed Memorial Veterinary Scholarship" on the check. Online gifts can be made at http://give.am/JosephRJoyceMemorial by choosing "this gift is a tribute to someone." Memorial gifts may also be sent to Our Saviour's Lutheran Church, 1001 Woodcreek Dr. College Station, TX 77845. Lastly, any remembrances of Joe are warmly welcomed at callawayjones.com