Memorial graveside services for 89-year old Joyce (Engel) Carr Colvin are Friday, Feb. 9 at 11:00 at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine, NE
A luncheon will follow at the Valentine Methodist Church.
A wake with register book signing will be held Thurs, Feb. 8 starting at 5:00 at Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine.
In lieu of flowers, Joyce requested memorials to the Valentine Senior Center or The Methodist Church of Valentine.
Online condolences may be left at legacy.com
Joyce Ann Engel was born on August 17, 1934, to Joseph and Mary (Boltz) Engel at the Engel Ranch south of Valentine. She passed away Jan 31, 2024, at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth, NE
Joyce attended a rural school throughout most of her grade school years, then graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis, NE in 1951 with a Normal Training Certificate.
She taught grades K-8 in the Cherry County Rural Schools for the next 4 years and attended classes at Kearney State College during the summer time, then entered Chadron State College full time in 1955.
On March 3, 1956, Joyce married John D. Carr. To this union were born 2 children: son Jerrold (JD) Carr and daughter Janen (Jan) Epke. John Carr passed away on October 12, 1985., and Joyce married James E Colvin on Nov 24, 1990.
Joyce received her BA from CSC in 1959 and began teaching high school English at Thedford that fall while continuing her own education during the summer months, eventually earning 4 advanced degrees over the next 21 years.
She received her MA from CSC in 1963, her Doctorate from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln in 1974, her Specialist Degree in School Psychology in 1976 from the University of South Dakota, and her Specialist Degree in Administration from CSC in 1980.
Joyce spent over 45 years working in multiple specialities in the field of education. She taught English, speech, physical education, coached, and was librarian at Thomas County High School at Thedford, and in the Cody, Valentine, and Wynot Public Schools.
She then worked as a special education teacher, school psychologist, and Director of Special Education for Educational Service Unit #17 for approximately 25 years.
Joyce also taught off-campus graduate and undergraduate classes for both Chadron State and Kearney State Colleges, and for a few years was also principal for several Class I Rural Schools.
Joyce was a member of the Nebraska School Psychologist Association for a number of years and she served on its Executive Board.
She received the Founder’s Award and Outstanding School Psychologist Award in both 1980 and 1993 for work in the field of school psychology in Nebraska.
Joyce served on the Human and Legal Rights Committee for the Keya Paha/Cherry Developmental Services for several years, and was a life-time member and officer of the VFW Auxiliary #5138 and the American Legion Auxiliary #90.
Joyce was involved in many activities for veterans, served as a Pink Lady for the Cherry County Hospital Auxiliary, and was a member of the Valentine Methodist Women for many years.
She did volunteer work for the Valentine Senior Center, where she served on the Executive Board and ate many meals. She also served on the Executive Board for the Cherry Hills Estate several years.
Joyce enjoyed traveling and saw most of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. She also visited Mexico, the Panama Canal, Canada, the Caribbean Islands as she took several cruises, usually accompanied by her special cousin Jeanne Joiner.
Joyce also enjoyed playing cribbage, bridge. and just about any card game, but said she enjoyed the many friends she made playing cards as much as she did the games themselves.
Despite all of her activities and interests, her greatest love was always her family.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents Mary and Joseph Engel; her husbands John Carr and Jim Colvin; her brothers Robert, George, and John; and her sisters Mary Young and Jo Reagan.
Joyce is survived by her daughter Jan (Don) Epke of Springview, NE, her son JD Carr of Yankton, SD; granddaughters Kris (Tanner) Tool of Elm Creek, NE, Kasy Epke of Valentine, NE, and Kami Epke of Elm Creek, NE; great-grandsons Cavan and Carden Tool of Elm Creek, NE; sister Pat (Dave) Schubauer, of Black Hawk, SD; nephews Mike (Shelia) Young of Valentine, NE, Mark Young of Wood Lake, NE, James (Diane) Engel of Waverly, NE; John (Allison) Schubauer of Vale, SD, and niece Kristine (Jeromy) Starmer of Summerset, SD; stepdaughters LaDel (Ken) Jankord of Pierre, SD, and Dixie Colvin of Albuquerque, NM; stepson Tim (Dana) Colvin of Valentine, NE; step grandchildren T.C. (Lacee) Colvin of Valentine, NE, Eric (Jordan) Colvin of Lincoln, NE, David Weiss of Albuquerque, NM, and Christen (John) Shelbourn of Bennington, NE; several step-great-grandchildren; numerous cousins, great-nieces and nephews; and many friends.
Sandoz Chapel of the Pines in Valentine is entrusted with service arrangements.