J.I. (Mac) McIntire

Joyce Irvin, (J.I.) McIntire, 91, passed away on Monday morning, October 5, 2015 at Oakwood Assisted Living in Stephenville.  A funeral service, with military honors, will be help on Thursday, October 8, 2015 at 10:00am in the Buffalo Gap Church of Christ, directed by Fry~Smith Funeral Home, Tuscola. Burial will follow in the Buffalo Gap Cemetery.  A visitation will be held from 5 to 7pm on Wednesday evening, October 7th, at the funeral home in Tuscola.

Joyce was born on September 13, 1924 in southern Stephens County, Texas to Walter and Maggie McIntire. He attended Parks Camp School and graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1942.

He enlisted in the U.S Army Air Corps on June 28, 1943 in Abilene, Texas. He was assigned to the 385 Bomb Group, 549 Bomb Squadron station at Great Ashfield, England. Serving as a gunner in B-17 bombers and bravely completing 32 missions over enemy territory during WWII. Joyce received the Air Medal with four bronze clusters, the Victory Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, the EAME Ribbon with three bronze stars and the Good Conduct Medal for his service. He was honorably discharged in 1945.

He retired from Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in 1979 after 35 years of service.  After retirement, he worked on the old home place at Gunsight.

Joyce is survived by his four children, Deborah Johnson of Aldeo, Connie Clark and husband Jerry of Leage City, James McIntire and wife Diane of Carbon, and Gwenora Cumbie and husband Bobby Jack of Gorman; six grandchildren, David Johnson and wife, Robin, Jennifer Gossett and husband, Kelly, Gerald Nethery, Patrick Cumbie and wife, Ashley, Sonny Cumbie and wife Tamra, and Rowdy Cumbie and wife, Haley; and great grandchildren, Shadrach, Titus, Joseph, Andrew, Savanah, Autumn, Dave, Samantha, Kiley, Halle, James, Grey, Landry, Slade and Paisley.

He is also survived by two-step daughters, Nancy Henderson and Renee Hicks both of Buffalo Gap, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by parents, wife Betty (dec 2001), brother, W.A McIntire (dec 2010).

Joyce’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gunsight Baptist Church, P. O. Box 572, Eastland, TX 76448 or the West Texas Rehab Center, 4601 Hartford, Abilene, TX 79605.

The family invites friends to leave a condolence or share a memory of Joyce in our online guestbook at www.Fry-Smith Funeral Home.

Romans 8:38-39

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers.  39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.