Joyce Lorraine Runyon Curry

Joyce Lorraine Runyon Curry obituary

Joyce breathed her last on December 17, 2024 after 96 wonderful, successful years. She died at home in her favorite chair surrounded by 3 generations of family. She will be dearly missed by her large family and most of all by her husband John C. Curry. She was born Joyce Runyon of Gilbert and Sarah Runyon in 1928 and raised on a dairy farm near Belle Mead/Harlingen, New Jersey with 5 sisters and a brother. She and her sisters could bail hay and load it overhead onto the hay wagon by hand, milk the cows by hand or machine, feed hundreds of turkeys every day, and handle farm equipment. She went to school in Princeton where she occasionally saw Albert Einstein about town. She was captain of her softball team. She graduated from nursing school in Michigan. She and her nurse friends started working their way across the country with the goal of getting to Hawaii. She never made it. She was captivated by John Curry while she was working in San Francisco. They were married less than three months after meeting each other at the church singles group. They were inseparable for 71 very happy years, separated only by death. They lived in San Francisco, Tucson, and finally Las Cruces where they raised 5 children. Joyce occasionally worked part time in various forms of nursing through the early years.

Joyce had a tremendous work ethic and was a fabulous, loving mother. Never did her family lack for a loving meal, clean clothes, or anything else a mother provides. What a wonderful person she was! She loved us all and demonstrated it daily. She concentrated on serving others, was selfless in her efforts, and wholly supported her husband. She and John served the Lord together at First Presbyterian Church. 

She loved to catch and eat fish. Catch and release fishing she did not comprehend. Various activities she enjoyed through the years were bridge club, canasta, and square dancing. She and John towed their travel trailer from Newfoundland to Chiapas and all points in between. She enjoyed Cheyenne Frontier Days every year with her siblings and the Lake House at Caballo, NM. 

She is survived by three children: John (Darlene) Curry, Paul (Mary) Curry, Tim (Robin) Curry all of Las Cruces., 15 grandchildren: Diane (Brian) Hurd, Johnny (Jennifer) Curry, Rebecca (David) Russell, Christina (Robert) Major, Jared (Kelly) Curry; Juliane (Erik) Sortomme all of Las Cruces; Debra (Drew) Lancaster of Lookout Mountain, Georgia; Brandon Curry and Darren Curry of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; Shane Curry of Corpus Christi, Texas; Justin (Osha) Curry of Nashville, Tennessee; Logan (Katie) Toews of Eagle, Idaho; Madelyn (Joel) Kramer of Horsehead, NY; Natalie (Seth) Wermager of Pittsburgh, PA; Ivan (Jess) Toews of Saratoga, CA., 37 Great Grandchildren: Katie, Ellie, Joanna, Margaret, and Annie Hurd; Wyatt, Sage, Reagan, and Marshall Major; Payton and Harper Curry; Davis, Emily, Grant, and Reese Curry; Colton and Carson Sortomme; Jennie, Fallon, and Hazel Lancaster; Levi, Landon and Westlyn Toews; Bryce, Jordan and Brianna Kramer; Esther, Abe, and Olga Wermager; Wes, Violet, and Alora Russell; Bentley and Legend Curry; Laylah, Izaac, and Quaylen Curry. 

She was preceded in death by her infant son Albert Curry, her son Herbert Curry, her daughter Jennie Toews, as well as her 6 siblings.

 Services will be held January 7th at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 200 East Boutz Road, Las Cruces, NM.