Joyce Hayen

Mary Joyce Hayen peacefully passed away November 28, 2021, surrounded by family. Joyce was born March 13, 1945 in Gillman, Colorado to Louis Berry Pycha and Charles Andrew Pycha. She graduated from Berthoud High School in 1963. There she married Robert (Bob) Hayen, Sr and they spent 57 years together. They had two sons Robert Hayen, Jr. and Andrew David Hayen. Joyce did lab work for a major sugar beet company in Colorado before the family moved to Trenton, NE. There Joyce worked in an agricultural analytical laboratory analyzing plant and soil samples. Joyce moved to Williston, FL in 1983 and soon thereafter started work at the University of Florida in Dairy Science as a chemist (1984). Her 30+ years of service to the University of Florida involved training graduate students in laboratory procedures and sampling animals for milk quality, lactation physiology, dairy nutrition, and physiological impact of management interventions on milk production research projects. Joyce played essential roles in multitudes of experiments with input pre-experimental design, analyses of samples, and data management. She served as friend, mentor and mother for many international students and postdoctoral appointments as well as being a good colleague to staff and faculty. Joyce was a member of many extended families and had an innate way of knowing when someone needed extra support and finding an opportunity to provide that support. Joyce was a valued and active member of the Department of Dairy Science and then the Department of Animal Sciences, helping where help was needed. No job was too big or too small to carry out. Post retirement, Joyce was recalled for service and oversaw property management and vehicle maintenance as well as numerous other essential responsibilities for Animal Sciences. Joyce and Bob purchased Frogs BBQ and most recently built the Toad Stool Bar and Package Store in Williston. Joyce was a positive force to those who knew her and she embraced life with gratitude and appreciation. She and her family enjoyed many years of Sunday dinners and card games. Joyce was grateful for and very appreciative of her sister Jean. Together with their Mother, they conducted many cherished road trips to conduct genealogy work. Joyce was a lifelong learner, embracing technology from the first digital cameras to smartphones. She was also an avid sewer, showering parents of newborns with special hand-made blankets. She enjoyed making and gifting practical gifts, and was famous for her bowl buddies. Joyce loved traveling and especially valued trips when friends or family were able to spend time together. She was a lover of animals and cared for the familys numerous cats, dogs and donkeys. Joyce was grateful for her family and friends who cared for her. Her Catholic faith brought her peace during her lifetime and final days. Joyce is survived by Robert Hayen, Sr., Robert Hayen, Jr., sister Jean Pycha, several brothers and sisters in law, numerous loving nieces and nephews and many close friends. Joyce was preceded in death by her son, Andrew David, her brother David Pinnick and her parents Louis and Charles Pycha. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 4, 2021 at 2:00 pm at Knauff Funeral Home, 512 E Noble Ave, Williston. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations in Joyces honor to be made to Marion County Hospice, the University of Florida Foundation, P.O. Box 14425, Gainesville, FL 32604-2425 or the charity of your choice. Memorial Service Knauff Funeral Home - Williston Saturday, December 4, 2021 2:00 PM 512 E Noble Ave Williston, Florida 32696

Visitation will be held one hour prior.