Joyce A. McWilliams, 86

May 21, 2020

Joyce A. McWilliams, 86, of W. Wareham, died Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at Plymouth Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in Plymouth. She was the wife of Gardner S. “Gabby” McWilliams.

Born in Rochester, she was the daughter of the late Walter Pierce and Ellen (Corse) Smith and graduated from Wareham High School. Mrs. McWilliams worked as a bookkeeper for E.L. Morse Lumber, Strawn Buick and the V.F.W. Auxiliary of Mass.

Active in the V.F.W. Auxiliary organization, she was a 52 year member and past-president of the former Benjamin D. Cushing Post # 2425 Auxiliary, past-president of V.F.W. Auxiliary of Mass. District 12, past-president of V.F.W. Auxiliary of Mass. from 1989 – 1990, and a V.F.W. Auxiliary National Council Member.

Survivors include her husband, Gardner “Gabby” McWilliams of W. Wareham; her sons, Mark A. Holmes, Sr. of Wareham, Thomas M. Holmes of W. Wareham, and Sharon L. Niles of W. Wareham; her siblings, Gail Purdy, Walter A. Pierce, Frances Florindo, and Francis Smith all of West Wareham, Bonnie Hartley of Rochester, and Lucille Walker of Lansing, MI.  Also surviving are and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, and nieces.  She was predeceased by her first husband, the late Lawrence W. Holmes, Sr.; her son, the late Lawrence W. Holmes, Jr.; and her siblings, the late Laurianne Lowe, June Gainey and John Smith.

A private graveside service will be held at Center Cemetery, Tihonet Road, Wareham.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to V.F.W. National Home for Children, (www.vfwnationalhome.org) or a veteran outreach that touches your heart.  Joyce spent over a half a century in service to veterans and their families.  

Arrangements by Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, Wareham.  To leave a message of condolence visit: www.ccgfuneralhome.com