Joyce Ann Hebberd was born on March 20, 1943, in Springfield with the help of midwife Inez Brandenburg and Doc Hamilton. Joyce was the first child of Milton Edgar (Bill) Hebberd and Kathryn Iona Dapron. Having a baby was Bill & Kathryn's attempt at delaying Bill's draft into World War II. Kathryn said, "We just didn't get started early enough! I was big as a barrel when he got shipped out." The telegram announcing Joyce's birth took two days to find Bill in Oran, Africa. She was 3 years old when she met her Dad.

Joyce "helped" Kathryn raise their first broomcorn crop while Bill was still overseas. Joyce was raised farming and ranching in the Walsh area. On July 7th, 1945, Joyce welcomed a little brother, John Billy (J.B.) into the herd. In 1951 the Hebberd's lived on the Archie Spangler Place north of Walsh. During that time Joyce and J.B. attended school at Vilas. In 1954 the family moved to the Charlie Reno Place northwest of Two Buttes. During these years Joyce and J.B. attended school at the one-room schoolhouse known as The Star School.

Joyce and J.B. were raised with cousins Norman (Nornie to family), Carolyn, and Sandra.  The children of Kathryn's sister Virginia were more like siblings than cousins. Grandma Dapron watched the rowdy crew while Kathyrn & Virginia worked at the Dapron Café, and respectively the Walsh Hospital and cousin Bill (Maxine) Miller's Variety Store. All 5 of the kids graduated from Walsh High School.

In 1959 Kathryn & Bill bought the Herman Oaks Place northwest of Walsh. During these years Joyce and J.B. attended Walsh High School. Joyce graduated from WHS in 1961. Beginning with their 30 year Class Reunion, the Class of '61 still takes "Class Trips" together every few years. Joyce got her gift for organizing get-togethers around food and fun from her Mom, Kathryn. The WHS Class of '61 has traveled and seen the sights together in 8 states including Mount Rushmore, the Albuquerque hot air balloon festival, casinos, concerts, tours through salt mines, the train ride at the Royal Gorge, and an Alaskan cruise.

Joyce attended college at Colorado State University, majoring in microbiology. Her intention was to become a large animal veterinarian, but instead she fell in love with this guy who (according to Joyce) looked like Elvis and "man could he dance!" Joyce noticed Eddie Ming while he was in high school at Pritchett. But Eddie said he didn't see Joyce until they were in college together. They married on March 18th, 1963.

Eddie and Joyce graduated from CSU in 1965. Armed with a microbiologist and Eddie's degree in Animal Production, they moved home to the Ming family ranch west of Pritchett, The Bar Star. Clyde and Margie Ming had plenty of work to keep them busy.  Joyce and Eddie moved into the old Lewisville School house 11 miles west of Pritchett, along County Road CC. The old sandstone rock building had one bare lightbulb, one garden hose faucet bored thru the foundation inside the structure for water, a stage at the north end where the teacher's desk sat (and Eddie shot rats with his pistol as they ran across), and a path outback to a fancy "2-holer" outhouse. Misty asked Joyce more than once, "What the heck were you thinking?!!!" Joyce said, "Oh, we were young and dumb and I just thought it was a grand adventure!" They still live in the same house, but they have added on & update the plumbing & some other things.

They farmed and raised cattle and horses with Clyde & Margie, and Eddie's older brother Don and his favorite sister-in-law Lolly. They also raised a couple of ornery kids. Greg showed up on October 23rd, 1963, followed by Misty on December 30th, 1967. Greg & Misty grew up in a house full of hard work, fun & a lot of laughter. They witnessed two people who loved each other deeply, and were a model for how to get irritated with one another, then kiss & make up. (If you work cattle together, you know…)  Eddie never left Joyce's presence without a kiss goodbye… because if he failed to Joyce would say, "Hey! Where's my kiss?!"

Joyce wore so many hats in her younger days. Besides being a wife and mother, Joyce was the ranch's veterinarian for horses, cattle, dogs, cats, and whatever wild thing Greg or Misty caught & wanted to keep. She was a long-term substitute teacher for Kindergarten and 3rd Grade at Pritchett School. For Southeast Colorado Hospital Joyce was a lab technologist and phlebotomist for many years, including a time when the entire staff took a pay cut just to keep the hospital open. In those days the lab technicians were also the x-ray techs. Joyce was also an EMT during her time at the hospital.  Joyce inspired and encouraged many of the current SE Colorado Hospital staff to join the medical field. She also taught a medical terminology class for Lamar Community College.

Joyce and Eddie had a vast social network that began in their newlywed years. They developed life-long friendships, thanks to Joyce's gift for gathering people around food and fun. Bob & Patsy Pursley and Max & Janice Yocam were neighbors to the west in LasAnimas County. From Pritchett there was Clarence & Sylvia (& Laura Jane) Stevenson, Hallie Jordan and Bob (Loewen) Salzbrenner, and Kenneth & Lyla Day. From Springfield, Bob & Donna Dowell and Ray & Peggy Fankhouser. From Clayton, New Mexico, it was Judy & Alton Bryant. From Walsh it was the Forgey family and the whole Hebberd clan. This group of co-conspirators, accomplices, and alibi providers had Card Parties where they brought their kids in pajamas & played 10 point pitch until the wee hours. They went to barn dances, or dances in town. They camped together, rodeoed together (Joyce loved barrel racing and goat tying!), vacationed together, tore down old buildings to scalp lumber to build someone a house, raised barns for each other, raised cane, and raised their kids together.

Joyce was an integral member of so many associations, part of organizing, planning and running events for the Walsh & Pritchett Alumni Banquets, The Rodeo Club, Rainbow Quilting Club, a couples dance group called "Tumbleweeds", Daughters of the American Revolution, art shows, family reunions, and epic holiday celebrations.

Joyce always loved sketching and painting. She never met a stranger. So when she bought a western art book & discovered the lady taught workshops, in typical Joyce fashion she called the artist, Becky Anthony, and started an annual Painting Class. Friends from Stonington, Springfield, Pritchett, Lamar, and Boise City joined in the annual week of fun for 3 decades. This sanctuary is filled with Joyce's art. Many of you have paintings she has done. Some of you know that in most of her later landscapes, there is always a hidden cottontail bunny.

The other thing Joyce was locally famous for was being a great cook. If Joyce knew you, she knew your birthday & anniversary. She would at the very least send a sweet card. She wrote cards up until the last week of her life. If you were especially lucky Joyce would make you candy, or baked goods for your special day. Neighbors far and wide would time their visits to Joyce and Eddie's around meal times, knowing Joyce would say, "We've always got plenty, why don't you eat with us!"  Her standard quip was, "If you go hungry at my house, it's your own fault!"

Joyce's greatest joy was her family. Joyce & Eddie attended every sporting event, music show, or celebration that they could for their treasured grandkids & great-grandkids. She saw & appreciated each of their special talents & gifts. Joyce loved planning an annual vacation for the family and insisted that everyone be there. The older the grandkids & great-grands got the more challenging coordinating schedules became. She was so proud that Greg & Misty got along so well and stayed in close touch. Joyce just beamed when the family was all together in a restaurant somewhere, laughing loudly, telling stories, being goofy, and the waitress or some stranger would say, "You guys are having so much fun I wanna join you!" She believed those who play together stay together. As a family the Ming's enjoyed trips to lakes, amusement parks, all inclusive vacation destinations and even a Caribbean cruise. The destination wasn't nearly as important as the fellowship of family.

Joyce is survived by her husband Eddie, residing in their home/Lewisville Schoolhouse west of Pritchett; son Greg & wife Kathy of Guymon, OK; daughter Misty & husband Robin Abbott, of the ranch in Soldier Canyon north of Eddie; grandsons Cris (Ashley) & Aron (Cara) Ming, Nathan George, & Joe Barnes; granddaughter Shannon (Charlie) Pitts; 4 great-grandsons; 2 great-granddaughters; brother-in-law Don (Lolly) and their 3 children Linda (Randy), Becky (Kim) & John (Bev), and a wealth of other friends & family that love her dearly.