Joyce Norton

Juanita Joyce Norton, 93, of Portales, New Mexico, passed away on January 23, 2026 in Clovis, New Mexico. Joyce was born in Portales to P.F. and Mary Turner on January 8, 1933. She went to school in Portales and married her high school sweetheart Melvin Earl Norton on October 28, 1949. Joyce and Melvin moved to Redding, California, in 1955. He worked as a truck driver while she was a talented seamstress and loving mother. She also got an AA degree at Shasta College and later worked in food service. In 2006, Joyce and Melvin returned to Portales, where they enjoyed many years as active square dancers.
Joyce is survived by her loving husband Melvin, daughters Dianne and Carla, son Mark, sister Fern, brother-in-law Bill, and sisters-in-law Jeanie, Carlene, and Lois-Marie.
Joyce loved flowers and had a special fondness of quail. She was a kind soul with inner strength, a keen work ethic, a gentle manner, and a lovely smile. Dear Joyce is deeply and profoundly missed.