Joyce Marie Leatherwood of Dallas, Texas passed away on Monday, September 16, 2024. She was born on July 10, 1932 in Sudan, Texas to Samuel “Buck” Roy and Effie Thomas Roy. She was the youngest of five girls.
Joyce grew up in Dallas and met her best friend Marbeth when she began first grade and they remained close for 86 years. She met her future husband Charles “Porky” Leatherwood when she was 16 and he was 20. They married on June 15, 1951. They bought their first home in Irving, Texas and they had four children between 1954 and 1968: Mike, Kim, Cathy and Brad.
Joyce and Porky worked together at City Linen for about 16 years until they opened their own business in 1971. They later moved to Kenner, Louisiana for a few years before moving back to Dallas. Joyce loved to cook, watch movies and play games like 42, Poker and Canasta with friends. Later in life she started playing Mexican Train with her family. Joyce was a big time Cowboy fan and loved watching game shows like Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud.
Joyce loved to travel. When she was a young wife and mother, she spent a couple of weeks each summer at South Padre Island with her family. Later in life, she traveled the world with her friends Jack and Mary Hill and Duallise and Walter Kennedy. She traveled to nearly every state in the U.S., all over Europe, Hawaii and French Polynesia. She took a girls cruise with her best friend Marbeth to the islands in the Caribbean. Her last trip was two years ago when she spent a week in the Dominican Republic with her sons.
Joyce and Porky were happily married for nearly 63 years before Porky passed away in March, 2014. After Porky died, Joyce lived with her youngest son Brad for ten years before moving to a senior living apartment in December of 2023. After a couple of scary falls, she moved in with her oldest son Mike and Sonomi in June of 2024, where she lived the final three months of her life.
Joyce was kind and thoughtful in all of her relationships. She loved babies and small dogs. Being with her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her so much joy. Joyce was a simple woman and simple things made her happy. She was an incredible listener and made time for anyone that needed her. Her home was open to everyone and she was loved by all.
Joyce is survived by her four children, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband Charles, her niece Sue Martin, her sisters Francis Sims and Norma Martin, her grandchildren Aaron and Kevin Manskey and her friends Duallise Kennedy and Jack Hill.
The visitation will be held from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, September 21 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m. immediately following the viewing.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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