Mary Joyce Phillips Gibbons

To Live Stream Mary's service please go to this link.

It is with sadness that the family of Mary Joyce Phillips Gibbons announces her passing. Mary Joyce was a longtime former resident of Mesquite, Texas. Her life was much celebrated from her birth on November 21, 1933 in Kilgore Texas until her passing on February 4^th in Allen, Texas.

She was preceded in death by father Thomas William Phillips, mother Annie Mae Fitzgerald Phillips, brother TW Phillips, and sisters Kathleen McWhorter, Grace Gordon. She was also preceded by step siblings Floy Humphreys and Louis Phillips of Mississippi.

She is survived by sister Patsy Loyce Dingle Liles of Trophy Club, Texas, daughters Karan Darlene Robinson of Grapevine, TX and Cynthia Gail Atkinson and husband Lee Atkinson of Allen, Texas.

She is also survived by grandchildren Elizabeth Ashley May Robinson, Jacob Aaron Matthew Robinson and wife Julie Robinson, Meredith Brianna Kay Robinson, Shay Christine Atkinson, Kyle Phillip Atkinson as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins.

Growing up with her family in East Texas, Mary Joyce was close with her siblings. Her father passed when she was three, and she was raised and had a close relationship with her mother Annie Mae. After finishing school in Kilgore, Texas she moved to Houston, Texas then lived in several different places including London England, Cheyenne Wyoming, Forestville Maryland and several other places in Texas before coming back to settle in Balch Springs with her family.

Upon her return to Texas she became involved in city politics and Mesquite Schools where she served as the President of Mesquite Council of PTAs, and as treasurer of friends of Mesquite Library. As a natural performer with a passion for singing and dancing, she was a member of the choir at First United Methodist where she worshipped since 1969, was chosen as a member of the 1976 Women’s Bicentennial Chorus, and joined the Greater Dallas Sweet Adeline’s.

In 1980 she re-entered the workforce, continuing her career in banking with Preston State Bank (now Bank One), and other banks in Henderson, TX and Houston, TX before coming home and retiring with Gateway Bank in Balch Springs.

Her love of singing and dancing was exceeded only by her love of family and found her planning large family reunions complete with the talent shows, where she and her sisters and cousins would perform various musical numbers acapella and in costume! Not one to pass up on an opportunity to dance she loved honky tonks and family holiday time dancing to carols. This love of people and dancing carried her to the Senior Center at Evans Recreation Center where she attended dances and built friendships with other Mesquite residents.

Her vibrancy will be missed by her family and all those who knew her in the community.

The viewing for Mary Joyce Phillips Gibbons will be held at New Hope Funeral Home in Forney, Texas on Wednesday, February 10^th from 9am to 4pm. The family will welcome guests at a second viewing from 6pm to 8pm that evening. Her funeral service will be at New Hope Funeral Home on Thursday, February 11^th at 10am and available for streaming online due to safety concerns. After the service her family will accompany her to East Texas where she will be laid to rest in a private ceremony.