Joyce Mae Hamilton

Joyce Mae Ellis Hamilton, 93, of La Junta, Colorado, died peacefully at Fowler Health Care Center on Monday, February 13, 2023. She lived in North La Junta for almost 40 years. Since her husband died in 1991, she has lived there with her son, Tom.

Mrs. Hamilton was born Joyce Mae Ellis on May 5, 1929, in Des Moines, New Mexico to Robert and Glossie Vivian Ellis. She married Robert Douglas Hamilton on August 22, 1945, and had three children, Vivian Pearl Hamilton Dawkins, Robert Thomas Hamilton, and Meredith Susan Hamilton. She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert, her daughter, Meredith, and her great-granddaughter, Tyler Ann Rust. She is survived by her daughter Vivian, and her husband Jerry, of Spring, Texas, and her son, Tom, of North La Junta; two granddaughters, Stephanie Tucker and her family of Driggs, Idaho, and Katy Curtiss and her family of Houston, Texas; three grandson’s, Jacob Hamilton and his family of Aurora, Colorado, Matthew Hamilton and his family of Littleton, Colorado, and Taylor Hamilton and his family of Parker, Colorado; one brother Jay Ellis and his wife Billie Rae of Des Moines, New Mexico, and two sister’s-in-law, Betty Ellis of Raton, New Mexico, and Helen Ellis of Enterprise, Oregon; and nine great-grandchildren, Jadon, Josh, and Jack Tucker; Sadie Curtiss; Jude Hamilton; Colin and Lucy Hamilton; and Avery and Delaney Hamilton.

She was raised on a farm in northeastern New Mexico during the Great Depression and developed a love of all things outdoors. Fishing, gardening, and keeping her yard looking its best were three of her favorite past-times. As an avid crocheter she was part of a group at the La Junta Senior Center for many years. Her other love was traveling, and she made many trips with my sister around the U.S. and with my brother in Europe. One of her very special trips was a cruise through the Baltic finishing in her beloved Norway.

She was an accountant for the Montgomery Wards catalog house in Denver for 23 years. After her retirement, and subsequent move to La Junta, she worked as a part-time bookkeeper for American Family Insurance, and as a waitress in the cafés at Winter and La Junta Livestock for more than 30 years. She worked at Winter Livestock until she was 87.

Mrs. Hamilton was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for over 50 years and served as Worthy Matron of the Chivington Chapter in La Junta. She was active in Doe’s, the women’s group affiliated with the Elks Lodge, served as their president, and held other offices within the organization.

There will be a graveside service of remembrance at the Des Moines Cemetery in Des Moines, New Mexico, at 10:30 am on Saturday, June 10, 2023.

Memorials may be made directly to the Fowler Health Care Center in Fowler, Colorado or to the La Junta Senior Center.

Online condolences may be made at www.peacockFH.com. Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.