Joyce Ball Horton died on August 3, 2015, following surgery in Dallas, Texas. The funeral service will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church under the direction of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home with Rev. Gene Wisdom and Rev. Mike Kearns officiating. Visitation will be at 6:00 p.m. Friday at the church. A reception will follow the service at 7:15 p.m.
She was born on October 31, 1926, in Minter, Lamar County, Texas, to Albis and Eula May Ball. She graduated from Deport High School in 1944 and attended Texas State College for Women (now TWU) in Denton, graduating with a degree in Home Economics in 1948.
Following graduation, she accepted a job with the Hunt County Extension Service in Greenville, working primarily with 4-H Clubs at schools around Hunt County. She met Jack Briscoe Horton in Greenville and they married on October 10, 1950.
Joyce was named Mrs. Greenville in 1951, later competing in the Mrs. Texas Pageant. This competition focused on homemaking skills, character and intelligence. She also started a business making custom fabric-covered buttons and belts for ladies’ dresses and suits that was quite successful in the 1950’s and 60’s. Later she worked as bookkeeper and office manager for the family businesses: PolyClean, Horton Sales (now Horton Commercial Refrigeration).
She and her husband were charter members of Crestview Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and later joined Wesley United Methodist Church, where they were active members of the Alpha Sunday School Class.
Joyce was a lifetime member of the Greenville PTA, after serving as president of the Lamar School PTA for several years. She was also a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, and a long-time member of Greenville Garden Club, Junior Pallas Club and Aesthetics Club.
One of her favorite things to do was to cook for friends and shut-ins. She also enjoyed having dinner parties for friends and new arrivals in Greenville.
She is survived by two children: Judy Horton Newton and husband Lee of Sugarland, and Jack B. Horton, Jr., and wife Paula of Greenville, and five grandsons: Jason and Brian Newton, and Connor, Cody and Caleb Horton. Also surviving are brother-in-law, Hal C. Horton and wife Lelloine of San Antonio, nieces Pud Kearns of Greenville, Trudy Hutton of Fredericksburg, Lelloine Waits of Rockport, Laura Fogle of Lindsay, and Mary Ann Herron of McKinney; nephews Paul Plunket of Dallas and Chuck Ball of Farmersville, as well as many great-nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death are her husband; her parents; a brother, Charles Ball; and sisters-in law Mary Jane Lauderdale, Sarah Plunket and Ruth Ball.
Pallbearers are her five grandsons and great-nephew Richard Kearns of Azle.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, donations are made to the church or charity of choice.