Joyce Ann Seargeant

When Mrs. Joyce Ann Seargeant walked into the room, those in her company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Joyce was and how she impacted those around her. Joyce was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Joyce wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Joyce was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve her well throughout her life.       She was the daughter of William and Ruby McCurry. Joyce was raised in Unicoi Tennessee. Always at the ready with a good joke, she grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Joyce might describe her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that Joyce was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to her.      Joyce was raised with 2 younger siblings. She had one brother, Bill and one sister, Hilda. Joyce was very accepting and supportive of her family. She was perceived as the central person in her family in terms of keeping communication open between the family members. Whenever discord or tension arose within the home, Joyce was typically the member who brought about resolution and harmony. These traits served Joyce well in her adult life and, along with her wit, outgoing personality, and understanding of others, drew the admiration of many who knew her.      As a young girl, Joyce was able to enjoy the gifts of growing up in beautiful countryside of upper east Tennessee. This ability lead her into a appreciating the community in which she was a part of. Joyce was intelligent and enjoyed playing games with her peers. She was almost always the first to jump in when it came to helping out or participating in other childhood activities. Joyce had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity she and the many childhood friends she shared might discover.      During her high school years, Joyce responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. Joyce was a very good student, and generally did well in her courses. Joyce absorbed as much as she could from all of her teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using her imagination to master her assignments. For Joyce, school often became just an extension of playtime, thanks to her ability to turn just about anything into a game. Classmates considered Joyce a good listener, knowing that when necessary, they could go to her to discuss just about anything.Joyce met George while she was working for the ASCS office in Erwin. George was actually the auditor sent to inspect the ASCS office. It was love from the first time they met. They finally decided to tie the knot and got married on May 16th, 1964. Joyce's skill at “building bridges” played an important role in her ability to make her new family happy. She was quite sensitive towards George's needs, showing her constant concern and fondness. Joyce was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family. Towards the end of George's life, Joyce diligently took care of him. She was always there for George until his death in Oct. 2005.      Joyce and George had their first and only child on their one year anniversary. They originally named him Jeffrey Allen; then George wanted part of his name used. Next they changed it to George Jeffrey, but that did suit them either. They finally decided on Jeffrey George. Joyce always told a story about how when she was pregnant she wanted a boy. She just knew it was a boy due to him kicking her every time she passed a large rock as she traveled with George. For Joyce, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Seargeant home. Joyce's skill at understanding her child's feelings, her sensitivity to his needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. She was also blessed with three grandchildren Isabelle, Aidan and Breton. Joyce always loved living in Lebanon, Tennessee. Her home was on Old Hickory lake, and she enjoyed life there. She enjoyed going on boat rides with her husband and son. She would often be found down at the lake shore with the family dog, Lady, fishing and soaking up the beautiful surroundings.      Joyce derived much satisfaction from participating in and watching sports. Her charisma, supportive nature and ability to improvise when called upon to do so all made perfect attributes for enjoying a great many sporting activities. In high school, Joyce played basketball. Recreational sports included bowling. Joyce was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were UT Football.      Throughout her later years, Joyce was an active member of the Eastern Star.      Joyce was a woman who was dedicated and devoted to her faith. She was a member of Washington Pike United Methodist. She was sympathetic and able to empathize with others, and she used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for her beliefs.      Joyce's love of improvising in her daily life was a perfect fit for her enjoyment of traveling. Her favorite vacations were ones that were not planned. Traveling in a casual manor fit her personality well. Excited about seeing changing scenery and constantly looking for the enjoyment life could offer was what she relished the most. Her favorite vacation was when she and George went to see the Grand Canyon.      Joyce was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. Lady, a Collie, was a best friend for 14 years.       Joyce had been struggling with COPD for years, and then had a car wreck on Oct. 15th, 2012 that complicated her condition. She is survived by her only child and his spouse, Jeff and Holly, her grandchildren, Isabelle, Aidan, and Breton. Services were held at Mynatt's Funeral Home. Joyce was laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee.      Joyce left behind many friends and acquaintances. All of them had a common theme to say about her. They all said she was a very sweet person and was always nice to everyone she met. They also said she was always positive and that she had so much love for her grandchildren, son and daughter-in-law. She always told everyone she met stories about her grandchildren. Many of the nurses and doctors that took care of her in her final days also said she was the sweetest person and never complained about anything. There was always a certain style and graceful methodicalness to Joyce. She was a conservative yet self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless joys life had to offer. She had a knack for being clever, creative, and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Joyce Seargeant for inspiration, wisdom, and love. Joyce was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with her loved ones.