Loyce was born May 3, 1927, in Winslow. Her parents were Cleon and Etolia "Jo" Woolsey, and they preceded her in death.

Loyce married William "Bill" Auten on August 23, 1950, and they had been blessed in celebrating 53 years of marriage before his death in August 2004.

Loyce graduated in 1945 from Winslow High School. She was a beautician in her early years, as well as being an instructor at both Tri-State Beauty School and Vincennes Beauty College. When she retired in 1991, she had been employed at Buehler's in Oakland City.

Loyce had been a member and past president of the Winslow American Legion Post #155 Auxiliary for more than 60 years. She was also a life member of the Petersburg VFW Auxiliary.

She will be greatly missed by her family. She is survived by her daughter, Rhonda Jochim and son-in-law Ken Jochim of Boonville; three grandchildren; grandson, Eric Esarey and his wife, Heather, of Boonville; granddaughter, Brooke Lowrey and husband, Jason, of Newburgh; and granddaughter, Amy Wright of Newburgh; seven great-grandchildren, William "Aiden" James Esarey, Brendan Wright, Kamryn Wright, Emily Lowrey, Bryce Lowrey, Baylee Vanbibber and Kiersten Frasier; her sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Bruce Lake of Fort Wayne, Ind.; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Earsey Auten Jr. and Betty of Winslow, Ind.; and two special nieces, Tricia Wornica of Petersburg, Ind., and Joanna Frederick of Petersburg, Ind.

Her family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Woodmont Health Campus in Boonville, and the Deaconess Hospice staff and volunteers, for the wonderful care they have provided to Loyce.

Funeral services were 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, 2006, at Harris Funeral Home in Petersburg, Ind., Dr. Robert Asa officiating, with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery in Winslow, Ind. Visitation was 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to service at Harris Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Winslow Christian Church or Deaconess Hospice.