- Date Of Birth: November 17, 1931
- Date Of Death: February 9, 2012
- State: New Mexico
Joyce Eileen Lassiter was born in Spokane, Washington to Glenn F. and Ruth (Harrison) Litch on November 17, 1931. As a child, Joyce loved the outdoors and was an active member of the Spokane Mountaineers and Hobnailer’s mountain climbing organizations. She was also an outstanding varsity tennis player for Lewis and Clark High School. After graduating from high school, Joyce attending Washington State University where she pursued a major in Education.
Joyce spent the majority of her life in New Mexico; the last 50 years were in Deming. She was an avid reader and had quite an extensive personal library. Joyce loved to travel and made occasional trips to the casinos in Laughlin, Nevada where she could usually be found at a video poker or Wheel of Fortune machine. Joyce took a great deal of pride in her flower gardens and rarely missed watching a Denver Bronco or Dallas Cowboy football game. She lived her life on her own terms and identified with Frank Sinatra’s classic song, “I Did It My Way.”
She is survived by her daughter, Diana (Payne) Mayfield of Palmer Lake, Colorado; a son, Jim G. Payne of Deming; her grandchildren, Rhonda Payne of Las Cruces and Jim G. Payne, Jr. of Carlsbad, New Mexico; a great grandson, Nathaniel of Las Cruces and her loyal companion, Ranger, her cat. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her soul mate, Roland Reed Lassiter; and her sister Gwendolyn Martin.
