John Joyce

DYER CHAPEL-John Wesley Joyce, age 64, departed to his heavenly home on January 28, 2025. He was born April 11, 1960 at Jenny Stewart Hospital in Hopkinsville, Kentucky to John A. (Jack) and Sarah Mae Mann Joyce. He was the grandson of John Francis and Helena Joyce of Kinderhook, NY and Samuel Hugh and Nettie Lewis Turner Mann of Cerulean, Kentucky. He was a member of Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

John was a 1978 graduate of Putnam County Senior High School and attended Tennessee Tech University for two years, studying engineering. Since his youth, John was always interested in mechanics, electronics, and how “things worked.” He was inquisitive and open to new ideas and technology. As a teenager, he worked at Wagnon’s Electronics, not only as a salesman but also performing stereo repair and installations for their customers. His knowledge led to working for a small company named REI where he designed and built computer boards and worked in sales. He enjoyed every chance he had to go to the Consumer Electronics Show where new and emerging technology was presented to the public.

His electronic work led him to the health care industry when he began working for Cookeville General Hospital (CRMC) in 1993. He advanced to the directorship of the Clinical Electronics department and was an integral part of preparing and opening the first interventional cardiovascular treatment program in the area.

In midlife, John decided to learn metalworking. John’s beloved grandfather had been a blacksmith and John moved from cutting-edge technology to learning to work with metal. He opened Cumberland Ironworks in 2005 and made many beautiful wrought iron staircases, handrails, and gates that are still cherished by his clients to this day.

John married Karen Ford of Cookeville, Tennessee on May 4, 1984. They had been together almost 45 years at the time of his death. They celebrated the birth of their only child, John Daniel, on June 3, 1985 and were so grateful that he has been a good son and also gave them two wonderful grandchildren to enjoy.

In addition to his grandparents, John was predeceased by his father, Jack, and his nephew, Justin Brown. He leaves behind his mother, Sarah, wife, Karen, his son, John (Chanel) and two grandchildren, Bekki and John Paul. He also leaves behind three loving sisters, Denise Joyce, Debbie (Jim) Dixon, and Dianne Brown. His nieces and nephew who will remember him fondly are Debbie and Jim’s girls, Sarah Jo (Justin) Zent and his great-nephew, Dixon Lee, and Angela (Chad) Yonge, and Dianne’s son, Tyler (Becky) Brown and his great-niece, Raylen.

Pallbearers will be Ron Taylor, Duane Grimes, Ty Hopper, Andy Carmichael, Justin Zent, and Tyler Brown. Honorary pallbearers are Jim Murphy, Darrell Cole (his best friend for over 50 years), Jim Sullivan, Chris Knutson, and Don Pulley.

Services will be held at Dyer Chapel Hooper-Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home, 798 S. Willow Ave. Cookeville, Tennessee beginning Friday, January 31, 2025 with a visitation from 5-8 PM and followed on Saturday with visitation 12 PM until time of services at 2PM. Brother Christian Smith will officiate the service. Interment will be at West Cemetery in Cookeville, Tennessee.

John was the primary caretaker of the lands of West Cemetery, spending many mornings cleaning the grounds and caring for the monuments, and the family respectfully request that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to West Cemetery, c/o Sharon Howard, 4449 Old Bridge Road, Cookeville, Tennessee 38506.

Dyer Chapel Hooper-Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931)526-7158. You may share condolences and memories at www.dyerfh.com.