Joyce Cockerham was born in Lafourche Crossing near Thibodaux. Her father was a supervisor for Shell Oil Company, and the family moved to Conroe, Texas. She and Bob Cockerham met there while Bob was serving in the army during World War II. They married in 1943. After Bob returned from the war, the couple ended up in Morgan City where Bob soon got a job working for Kerr-McGee drilling what was to become the first successful offshore oil well drilled out of sight of land. Bob worked for several drilling companies over the next 22 years and then worked as a consultant until his retirement in 1984. Bob and Joyce's daughter Frances married Buddy Justillien. Joyce, Frances, and Buddy spent their lives in the oil field. Buddy and Frances now operate Justco Engine Service.