Joyce Marilyn (Kerr) Aigner

Joyce Marilyn Kerr Aigner of Mansfield, Texas went home to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 7, 2023.

Joyce was born on November 14, 1926, in Winfield, Kansas, to Lola Wright Kerr and Avery Kerr. She had one brother, Keith, and they grew up on their family’s wheat farm southwest of Winfield. She graduated from Winfield High School in 1944. On May 5, 1944, she married Garret Herbert Aigner, who was in the U.S. Army Air Forces and stationed at nearby Strother Field. While Garret served overseas, Joyce worked the second shift in the offices of Beech Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. After his discharge at the end of World War II, the couple settled in Wichita and welcomed two sons, Stephen and Thomas.

In 1954, the family moved to Houston, where Joyce and Garret would live for more than 25 years. They were faithful members of First Baptist Church South Houston, and Joyce sang in the choir, taught children’s Sunday school, and helped count offering money each week. For many years she actively served on the kitchen committee. She was involved in her children’s lives, volunteering as a room mother and Cub Scout den mother. Following Garret’s retirement, they moved to Leona, Texas in 1981. They again became active in their church and community and were charter members of Leona Baptist Church. Joyce loved to help others and enjoyed serving on the church hospitality committee and collecting donations for the Leona Lord’s Pantry. Joyce was best known for her baking – her pies were legendary, even selling for large amounts in charity auctions, and her family never left her home without a tin of homemade cookies. Joyce and Garret always made their family a priority. They gave loving attention to each of their grandchildren, making sure to be present for the special events in their lives. They often traveled to visit family around the country. Joyce regularly kept in touch with friends and relatives through phone calls and letters in her beautiful handwriting. After Garret’s death in 2011, she moved to the Dallas/Fort Worth area to be closer to family. There she was a member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Cedar Hill. Joyce’s was a life of devotion and service -- to her husband of 67 years, her children, her extended family, her friends, countless others with whom she came into contact, her church, and, in all, to Jesus.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brother, and son Thomas Aigner. She is survived by her son Stephen Aigner (Brenda) of Grand Prairie, Texas; daughter-in-law Susan Weiss of Bethesda, Maryland; grandchildren: Jennifer Bryant (Matt) of San Antonio, Erin Campbell (Adam) of Fort Worth, and Jonathan Aigner (Kelsey) of Pasadena, Texas; great-grandchildren: Emma Bryant, Grace Bryant, Clara Campbell, Becket Campbell, Ava Campbell, Theodore Aigner, and Violet Aigner; special niece Kathy Curley (Ron) of Franklin, Tennessee; grandniece Allison Marin (Steve) of Franklin, Tennessee; great-grandnieces Eleanor Marin and Caroline Marin; and many other relatives and friends.

A service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at Walters Funeral Home, 610 Commerce St., Centerville, TX 75833, with visitation before the service at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Leona Cemetery, 203 N. Leona Blvd, Leona, TX 75850. If desired, donations may be made in Joyce’s name to Leona Lord’s Pantry, Box 101, Leona, TX 75850.

Walters Funeral Home, Centerville is entrusted with final arrangements.