Joyce E. Abram, 74, of Ennis, Texas, passed away on Saturday, July 3, 2010 in Ennis, TX, surrounded by her beloved family after a lengthy illness. Joyce was born September 3, 1935 in Randall, Kansas, to Chester Flinn and Violet (Steinman) Flinn. Joyce married her loving husband of nearly 56 years, Tom Abram, on August 25, 1954. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Ennis, TX.
Joyce spent her childhood years growing up on a farm in Randall, Kansas, graduated from Randall High School and attended Kansas State University. After marrying, her husband's job moved her to many different locations including Wichita, Kansas; Middlebury, Indiana where she was a Division Manager with Coachmen Industries; and many other towns before making Ennis, Texas their home in 1978. Joyce and her husband Tom founded Able Enterprises where Joyce was Vice President. She cherished and appreciated all of those she worked with.

Joyce served on numerous civic and church related organizations and boards. The Chamber of Commerce of Ennis, Texas awarded her Volunteer of the Year on two different occasions. Joyce was active in the Chamber of Commerce, Boys & Girls Club, Helping Hands, and served on the board of the American Heart Association where she chaired the heart walk. She also served on the board of the Children's Advocacy Center and was Board Member and Chairman of the PPR Committee of First United Methodist Church of Ennis.

Joyce taught piano lessons for many years and enjoyed playing the piano and organ for the Methodist Church in several of the towns she lived in. She loved to travel and go to Ennis Lions and Dallas Cowboys football games. Always dressed beautifully, she had the special gift of making a difference in someone's day.

A devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, Joyce spent much of her time with her family and close friends. She loved to make holidays, birthdays and family gatherings special and even casual get-togethers were joyous. She always welcomed others to her home and was eager to cook-up something special. Her kind and loving spirit shone through the smile she always had on her face. She would be the first to help others and had a special place in her heart for children and the family pets. Joyce's strong will to survive and be with her family helped her defeat several bouts of heart illness, stroke and breast cancer.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Doris Damrell. She is survived by her husband, Tom Abram; a daughter Jeannette Heign and her husband Greg Heign of Ennis, TX; a son Dick Abram of Ennis, TX; a daughter Teri Abram of Dallas, TX and special friend Chris Wold and his children Casey Wold and Olivia Wold of Plano, TX; a granddaughter Heather Heign of Dallas, TX; a granddaughter Shannon Guggenheim and her husband Matt Guggenheim of Austin, TX; a great-granddaughter Abigail Elizabeth Guggenheim of Austin, TX; a sister Mary Bergstrom and her husband Art Bergstrom of Buena Vista, CO; and a sister Darlene Showalter and her husband Howard Showalter of Springfield, MO as well as numerous other relatives and friends.

The family wishes to extend a special thank-you to The Ennis Regional Medical Center, Legend Oaks Nursing Home, and Family First Hospice as all were wonderful to Joyce and her family.

Visitation is Tuesday, July 6, 2010, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at J.E. Keever Mortuary, 408 N. Dallas, Ennis, TX. Services will be held Wednesday, July 7, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Ennis, TX. Interment will follow at Myrtle Cemetery under the direction of J.E. Keever Mortuary. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Ennis, 300 N. Sherman, Ennis, TX 75119.