Joyce Evelyn Dane

Joyce Clark Dane, 89, went to the arms of her beloved husband Ben and her Lord Jesus on Friday, February 10, 2012. Graveside services will be 11:00a.m., Tuesday, February 14, 2012 in Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home, 542 Hickory St. Visitation will be Monday, February 13, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00p.m at the funeral home.

Joyce Evelyn Clark was born on January 30, 1923 in Sadler, Grayson County, Texas; the second born child of Howard and Evalena Cartwright Clark.

Shortly after entering the first grade, Joyce was promoted to the third grade. She was an Honor graduate, of Abilene Senior High School, Class of 1940. Joyce played guitar by ear during her high school years and played and sang with a trio at school functions. She also played piano by ear.

Upon graduation from high school, she went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Abilene as a long distance telephone operator. She met the love of her life, Benjamin H. Dane while he was stationed at Camp Barkley, and they were married on June 14, 1942. In 1948, they moved and she transferred to the SWBT in Fort Worth. Joyce was offered a supervisor's position as well as the position of secretary to the administrator, both of which she declined because she loved her job so well. In 1955 they moved back to Abilene and she worked at the telephone company here until she retired in 1978 after 36 years of service.

A member of Elmcrest Baptist Church, Joyce loved and was deeply devoted to her church and church family. She kept church records for her husband who was a deacon and church clerk. After he passed away in 1991, she continued on with the work as church records clerk until she could no longer physically hold up to the job and resigned around 2007 after 27 years. Joyce continued supporting her church financially in many ways beside her tithe. Up until Ben's passing, she enjoyed hosting socials for her Sunday school class and participated in all other church socials and services.

Joyce loved to travel by plane, train, ship, and automobile, and she and Ben traveled extensively, covering almost all of the lower 48 states, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico. She collected souvenirs from every place they visited. She also kept a running journal of their travels.

Joyce & Ben owned a farm raising cattle, goats, and a very large vegetable garden. Joyce spent time with Ben out there, helping with gathering the vegetables, canning, and freezing. She enjoyed cooking, took pride in it, and loved what she cooked.

She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers organization and attended their functions regularly until no longer able to do so physically.

Joyce loved and was devoted to her family. Her siblings and nieces and nephews were the children she never had and she called herself "the old mother hen" as she worried over us all and contributed so much to our well being.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Ben.

Survivors include her three sisters, Pauline Clark Maul of Payson, AZ, June Clark Burt and Shirley Clark Pylant both of Abilene; her two brothers, Dr. M. H. Clark of San Angelo, TX and Raymond N. Clark of Cape May, NJ; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to the Visiting Angels who took such tender and devoted care of Joyce, especially T.J., Maria, and Cindy. Also to the nurses at Windcrest Oaks Unit and to the Hospice of the Big Country.