Joyce Kelsey Houlihan

Joyce Kelsey Houlihan, 82, of Abilene passed away Friday, November 2. Joyce was born in Comanche, TX on May 24, 1936. She worked long hours on the farm with her parents, Linner Day and James Dillard Kelsey, along with her siblings. She excelled at basketball and was an avid fan until her death. Joyce was working at Abilene Drug on Grape Street, when Ron walked into her life. Stationed at Dyess in 1958, he proposed to and married Joyce Kelsey. And so began their great adventure. Together with their four children, this military couple lived many places. During their 23 years as an Air Force family, they served in Texas, Turkey, California, Germany, Louisiana, England, and Indiana. Joyce bravely supported Ron’s three tours in Vietnam as “Those also serve who only stand and wait”--with four youngsters to parent alone for months at a time.
They moved to Abilene in 1972 where Joyce worked at Timex and then the Abilene State School (now State Assisted Living Center). Her work as a wheelchair technician improved the lives of many clients through her custom creations. Joyce and Ron enjoyed all types of music, bowling, darts, VFW bingo, camping, fishing and card games, and traveling to Blue Grass festivals. For nearly 60 years, you never saw one without the other. Joyce cared for Ron his last few months and joined him less than a year later.
A service honoring her life will be held Wednesday November 7th at 11:30 am in the chapel at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St. She will be laid to rest with Ron at 1:00 pm in the Texas State Veteran Cemetery. A visitation with the family will be held beginning at 10:30 am prior to the service on Wednesday.
Children include son Donald (dec.) and wife Pauline Houlihan, daughter Nita and husband Al Keesee, son Dwayne (dec.) and wife Cindy Houlihan, and son Terry Houlihan. Grandchildren are Amanda Sellers, Jeff Keesee, Cassie Collazo, Tammy May, and Michael May as well as great-grandchildren Dylan, Jackson, Brittany, Baylie, and Trystan. Joyce is survived by brothers Earl and Garland Kelsey, as well as sisters Sue Carter, Margaret Ziegler, and Samantha Phillips.
Pallbearers will be Tony Poor, James Kelsey, Russell Kelsey, Tony Collazo, Tyrone Douglas, and Jerry Bowden. A special thanks to Dr. Vince Van Acht and friends. Donations can be made to the Meals on Wheels or Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.