Joyce Houston Toney

Joyce Houston Toney, a native and lifelong resident of Lake Charles, died Monday, December 26, 2011 at the age of 85, at the Cottage at Broadmoor in Baton Rouge, after a several-months stay in that city.

Mrs. Toney was born August 16, 1926 in Lake Charles, La to Benjamin Lee and Katie Houston. A 1946 physics graduate of LSU, Mrs. Toney worked for Shell Oil Co. and taught 8th-grade science for many years at LaGrange Junior High. She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church, where she was a part of the Col. Ware Sunday School Class. She enjoyed gardening, playing the piano, reading, studying scripture and spending time with her book club friends.

Mrs. Toney is survived by her son, David Toney and wife Joni; daughter, Ellyn Couvillion and husband Gary; and grandchildren, Benjamin and Jessica Toney, Anna Catalanello, Laura Catalanello, Daniel Catalanello, Meagan Couvillion, and Jan Schraeder and her husband Ethan. Mrs. Toney is also survived by her step-grandchildren, Brady Couvillion, Danielle Mock and husband Clint, and Desiree' Damann and husband Ken.

Mrs. Toney was preceded in death by her husband, Everette Toney; her daughter, Carolyn Nealy; and her grandsons Samuel Nealy and Joseph Catalanello.

Her funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 30, 2011 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Reverend Louis Blankenbaker will officiate. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and continue on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the service.