Reta Joyce Birdwell was born August 19, 1935, in Clinton, to Elbert Howard "Jack" Hargues and Reta Grace (Shelby) Hargues and left this earth, Thursday, February 9, 2023, surrounded by her family, at OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, at the age of 87 years, 5 months and 20 days.

Joyce was the youngest of three, joining her siblings, Barbara and J.E. She grew up on the family farm and attended Butler Schools, graduating in 1953.  Joyce earned her Bachelor Degree in Education from OU.

Joyce married Franky Eugene Birdwell January 26, 1957, in Butler.  After their marriage, they resided in Ketchikan Island, Alaska for a couple of years, followed by three years in Hemet, California.

In 1961, they brought home the first of their "dopted dolls", Reta Renee' and in 1964, they moved back to Oklahoma.  In August of 1964, they got the call that their second daughter had arrived, so they returned to California to pick up Lisa Beth.

They made their home in Weatherford running a boarding house for boys until they tore it down to build Campus South Apartments.

Joyce taught school for two years in Burns Flat and three years at Ramona Ochelata. They returned to Weatherford where she earned several degrees while simultaneously running the Sands Motel.  Joyce received her Master's Degree in Education of Library Sciences from SWOSU in 1978.  She worked for Weatherford Public Schools as the middle school librarian until her retirement in 2000.

Joyce enjoyed her "house on the hill" and made sure to surround herself with grandchildren and great-grandchildren as often as possible.

Left to cherish their memories are two daughters, Reta Renee' (Roger) Walker of Tulsa and Lisa Beth (Glenn) Zink of Weatherford; grandchildren, Amy (Ryan) Beck of Weatherford, Dakota (fiance', Carrie) Crase of Mansfield, Texas, Andrew (Erika) Walker of Tulsa, Brittany Crase of Owasso and Nathan Zink of Chickasha; great-grandchildren, Derek, Morgan, Cayden, Cooper, Addison, Alex, Nahliya, Brianna, Justin, Raylan and Carlie; numerous extended family, nieces, nephews and very dear friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Birdwell; parents, Jack and Reta Hargues; siblings, Barbara Harrington and J.E. Hargues; and great-grandson, Cameron McCarty.