Joyce Jane Caudle

Joyce Caudle, 82, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 8, 2008. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church with Rev. Jack Ridlehoover and Dr. Jeff Reid officiating. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park. The family visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Joyce was born on October 2, 1926, in Abilene, Texas to Dr. Thomas Berry Cox, DDS and Herries Grey McKinley Cox. She graduated from Abilene High School and then from Hardin-Simmons University, where she met the love of her life, Joe Caudle. Joyce and Joe enjoyed 60 years of marriage. In addition to Abilene, they lived in Seminole, Brady, Big Lake, Midland, Odessa, Texas and Hobbs, New Mexico. She served graciously in all the churches where they were members. She was a teacher and a school librarian. Mim, as she was lovingly called by her grandchildren, loved God, her family & friends. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her. She changed people's lives with her kindness and always looked for ways to meet others' needs. She was a living example of I Corinthians 13. Joyce was preceded in death by her mother and father. Survivors include her husband, Joe Caudle, of Abilene; daughter, Alice Ruse and her husband David, of Odessa; son, Brad Caudle and his wife Jeanne, of Chalk Hills; son, Jon Caudle and his wife Denise, of Abilene; daughter, Laura Odneal and her husband Tracy, of Farmersville; grandsons, Michael Ruse and his wife Jennifer, of Edmond Oklahoma, Steve Ruse and his wife Brittany, of Norman, Oklahoma, Tim Ruse and his wife Meagan, of Washington, D.C., Matt Caudle and his wife Nikki, of Abilene, and Russell Caudle of Abilene; a granddaughter, Emily Odneal of Farmersville; great- grandsons, Joe Ruse, Jake Ruse, and Holden Ruse. She is also survived by a sister, Margaret Cole, of Abilene; a nephew, Tom Cole and his wife Marilyn, also of Abilene, as well as numerous other relatives. Memorials may be made to the Missions Ministry of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church, 701 South Pioneer Drive, Abilene, TX 79605 or Abilene Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1999, Abilene, TX 79604. The pallbearers will be Hub Hayes, Jay Moore, David Morris, Wes Ratliff, Sid Saverance, and Jack Stuard. Honorary pallbearers will be the Gideon Sunday School class of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.