Joyce June Hoops
Joyce June Hoops (nee: LaGarce), 81, of Weldon Spring, MO, passed away on June 16, 2025.
Joyce was born on December 4, 1943 in St. Louis, MO and was a lifelong native, graduating from Normandy High School.
Joyce was married to James “Jim” Ernest Hoops on April 27, 1968 and had recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary before her passing.
In her younger days she loved to spend her weekends thrifting and going to garage sales. Some of her most cherished memories were the many vacations spent camping with friends and family.
Joyce worked in factories for many years before retiring from Clean Uniform Company in 2005. In her retirement years she found a second home on the internet where she loved keeping in touch with friends, both old and new, as well as keeping up on the latest celebrity gossip. Those connections truly meant the world to her and brought her a lot of joy.
Joyce is survived by her husband Jim; her son Rick Hoops; her grandchildren Douglas “Doug” Hoops Jr., Michael Hoops, and Brittany Demarco; and her brother Douglas “Doug” LaGarce.
She is preceded in death by her son, Douglas “Doug” Hoops; her parents, Fredrick and Venita LaGarce; and her sister, Carol Jacoby.
A Memorial Service & Picnic will be held at Noon on Sunday, September 7, 2025 at Veterans Tribute Park. Click the link below for more information.
Joyce Hoops Memorial Service & Picnic Info
The family of Joyce Hoops would like to give our deepest thanks and gratitude to her hospice nurse, Dawn, and the rest of the hospice staff. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to BJC Hospice.
Dear Mom,
As I said in the obituary, I know how much you loved being connected to your loved ones online so I’m sure you’ll find a way to be reading this now. I just want to say that I love you so much. I would not be the person I am today without you. Every act of kindness, joy, and love that I put out in the world is an extension of you and I want you to know how grateful I am to have had you as my Mom.
Your cancer diagnosis was a shock to everyone. As terrible as it was, I’m so grateful for the time that we got to spend together during your last months. I’m so proud of how bravely you handled everything and am humbled by the personal growth that I saw from you during such a difficult time. I’m honored that I got to help make this time as nice as it could be under the circumstances. You shared with me that you’d felt such an outpouring of love from the people in your life and I’m so glad I could be a part of that.
Life is full of ups and downs and yours was no different. I know that you were never the same after losing Doug, as no parent is after losing a child. I know in my heart that you are together with him again. I’ll think of you both every day for the rest of my life. Until we’re all together again. I love you so much. . . always and forever.
Love,
Rick
💔
Joyce, felt like more than a friend, she was like a second Mom to me. I met her online, but the connection we built was as real as any friendship could be. She was one of the funniest people I’ve ever known—quick with a joke, always able to lighten the mood, even in the hardest times. But what truly set her apart was her loyalty. If she loved you, she loved you—no questions, no limits.
She talked often and proudly about her family. They were the center of her world, and her love for them came through in every story she shared. She had a beautiful way of making people feel seen and valued, even across a screen.
Though we never met in person, I felt like I knew her heart. And now that she’s gone, there’s a space in mine that no one else can fill. I’m so grateful for the time we shared, the laughs, the chats, and her unconditional love.
She was a true friend. And I’ll miss her deeply.I know she is happy to be with Doug now. ❤️
I am so sad that I will never receive another message from my friend or hear her wonderful laugh. I cherish the many memories.
I met Joyce in 1958 our freshman year at Normandy High School. We just clicked. She was kind, thoughtful and so funny. Some of our escapades were dangerous. One Saturday night we went to a club in East St. Louis to hear B.B. King. Our parents would have had a heart attack if they had known. One of our adventures was an over night stay at a club house in Hoene Springs, it is near Eureka. It was a very secluded area back in early 1960’s. As we started getting ready for bed we thought we heard a noise outside. We decided if there was someone out there we would bark like a dog and scare them. Joyce started barking, I started laughing and then she started laughing. I said they probably never heard of a laughing dog.
Joyce was just one in a million. I miss my best ever friend already.
Joyce and I were online friends. We met way back when in an aol chat room. We have kept in touch ever since. And although we never met, she was great friend. I miss her so much. 💔