Joyce Curtis

Joyce Kay Curtis, 71, passed away surrounded by her loving family on January 1st, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. Joyce was born in Roswell, New Mexico, on August 20th, 1953, to Claude and Elzadie Hasler. As the baby of the family, she was more of a "daddy's girl" and was considered a tomboy as a child. Joyce raised dogie sheep for 4H and was always outside with her daddy and the horses; she loved to ride. After graduating from Goddard High School in 1971, she then went on to attend the University of Texas at El Paso for 2 years. After attending UTEP, she moved back to Roswell, where she obtained a business diploma from the Roswell Business College. She met her husband Larry Curtis the summer after she graduated high school, "dragging main" in Roswell, New Mexico. They dated for 2 ½ years as he finished college and married on April 6th, 1974. They welcomed their first and only child, Lori, in March 1976. Joyce was a huge supporter of her daughter's extracurricular activities, such as dance and cheerleading. She could always be found with a VHS recorder to record Lori's dance recitals. She later would happily tote around Lori and her cheerleader friends to away games. Lori will tell you that her mother helped wrangle the man who would become her husband into marriage. Dan will tell you how he was Joyce's favorite because she always baked him goodies and bought him whiskey. In 2001, Joyce became a grandmother to her only granddaughter, Kylee. She would only be called "Honey" from the moment she became a grandmother; she would quickly correct you if you referred to her as anything else. In 2003, her grandson, Curt, was welcomed into the world, and from there on out, she lived chasing around her two grandkids, especially after retirement. She hardly ever missed Kylee's volleyball or Curt's basketball games, traveling to away games and tournaments all across the state. She was a huge supporter when Kylee competed in pageants, and she loved to watch her sing and make appearances. Probably one of her favorite things, though, was watching Curt race motocross. It was loud and dirty, extremely long weekends, and usually very hot, but she was always there with a smile. Curt's moto weekends became one of the most anticipated weekends of the month and the best family gatherings. If you had talked to her, you probably heard about her days as a dispatcher; Joyce began her dispatch career in 1977, filling in at the Clayton Police Department. In 1978, Joyce was hired at the Roswell Police Department and worked there for 18 years. If you ask her daughter, Lori, she will tell you how she could never get away with anything growing up because her mom always had her officers keeping an eye on her. Joyce and Larry moved to Texas in 1997 where she worked for Denton Country Sherriff's Office, where she met the woman who would become her best friend. Joyce and Lisa created a friendship that many people dream of; they became sisters to one another, and their families blended and became one through the years. In 2002, Joyce and Larry moved back to Roswell as grandchildren had made their appearance, where she started working for the New Mexico State Police Department until her retirement in 2010. Joyce took her work as a dispatcher very seriously and took such pride in her ability to help the people she spoke with. Joyce cared for her officers as if they were her own children, referring to them as "her boys," they equally cared for her, making sure they brought her treats to stay on her good side. If you ask any of Joyce's family, they will tell you how stressed she was about retiring; she worried about who would take care of all her officers if she wasn't there. In 2010, she won New Mexico State Police Civilian of the Year, a true testament to her hard work and dedication. After retirement, aside from attending her grandchildren's events, she discovered how much she loved to paint. Oil painting became her favorite and she created beautiful pieces that she passed out to her family. She also joined a tap class for a period of time, where she even performed with her fellow classmates once or twice. Reading was also one of her favorite pastimes; she would read any books she could get her hands on. She was a spectacular cook and made many dishes that became her family's favorites. Her fours were to die for, and you can ask almost anyone! Around 2014, Joyce and Larry became deeply involved in the New Mexico Elks Association, which involved extensive travel throughout the state. She supported her husband during their adventures with the Elks, and from 2016 to 2017, she served as the First Lady of the New Mexico Elks Association. One of Joyce's favorite things to collect was Santa figures. During her reign as First Lady, she was gifted numerous Santas from lodges across the state. Even helping her decorate for this past Christmas, we saw how she had labeled every Santa she was gifted. Joyce is survived by her husband Larry Curtis; daughter, Lori Coupland and husband, Dan; granddaughter, Kylee Mydock and husband, Ky; grandson, Curt Coupland; brother, Kenneth Hasler and wife, Joan; sister, Rose Ann Lair; sister, Sherry Lewis and husband Pat; uncle David Lewis; aunt Geri Walton; cousin Sharon Walton-Gillespie and husband Mike; sister-in-law Sharon Perry; sister-in-law Patricia Popovich and partner John Paul; niece Christa Ashley and husband Darin and kids; niece Jamie Popovich and kids; nephew Michael Hasler and wife Lisbet; niece Chelsea Hasler; niece Stacy Santilli and kids; nephew Nathan Handlin and wife and kids; nephew Terry Lewis and wife and kids; nephew Michael Lewis and wife and kids; nephew Eric Lair and wife Trish and kids; niece Ede Linterman and husband David and kids. Joyce is also survived by her close friends Lisa and Kevin Lunday; Ray and Gail Mounts; Linda and Larry Roush; Kathy Bayes; Mike and Joy Jurecek; John Wayne Davis; Larry Rogers and wife. Joyce also leaves her two beloved cats, Trixi and Lucy, whom she has loved snuggling with for the past couple of years. Joyce is preceded in death by her parents, Claude W. Hasler and Elzadie Hasler, and her older sister, Melba Handlin. Blessed to be chosen as Honorary Pallbearers are Dan Coupland, Curt Coupland, Ky Mydock, Ray Mounts, Mike Jurecek, and all the officers she served with. Joyce's family wishes to sincerely thank the nurses and doctors in the MICU at the University Medical Center in Lubbock for treating her with love and dignity in her final days and caring for her and her family throughout the process. A Celebration of Life will be held on January 18th, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Roswell Elks Lodge in Roswell, New Mexico. The family asks that everyone wear her favorite color, red, to the celebration if they are able. Instead of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Elks National Foundation in her honor. She was Mom to many, and Honey to all. She will be missed forevermore.

Joyce Curtis

August 20, 1953 - January 1, 2025