Joyce Ann DeVaney, 76, of Melrose, NM, passed away April 14, 2017 at the Zale Lipshy Hospital in Dallas, TX. Services will be held 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at the Church of Christ in Melrose, NM under the direction of Steed-Todd Funeral Home.
Joyce was born August 1, 1940 to Elmer W. and Cecil B. (Pyburn) DeVaney on their homestead near Progresso, NM. She graduated from Corona High School and attended Eastern New Mexico University and the University of Arkansas before earning her PHD in Entomology from Texas A & M University in 1976.
Joyce worked for the USDA in Mission, TX as part of the screw worm eradication program. She retired in 1991 from the USDA at College Station, TX then moved to Melrose, NM where she built a new home on 280 acres. Among the many activities that filled her life after retirement was some extensive travel to places as far away as Thailand, Vanuatu, Korea, and Africa. Joyce was able to take her mother with her on several trips to see new places, family, and old friends.
Joyce was involved in her church and community. She enjoyed helping the Aggies for Christ and many times provided visiting students a place to stay. Not only did she help the young, she often took elderly people to their doctor appointments or to get groceries, played cards with them, and cooked for others. She was a substitute teacher at the public school in Melrose and also served as a school bus driver. She loved watching the kids compete at school sports.
Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Elsie Cosby and husband Gerald Cosby, and her brother, Dick DeVaney.
She is survived by three sisters: Helen Towell and husband Delbert of Abilene, TX; Cleo Wersonick and husband Ross of Rio Communities, NM; and Fern Snow and husband Ronnie of Zephyr, TX. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Carolyn DeVaney of Melrose, NM, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver, 2707 S Lamar St., Denver, CO 80227
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net
