Joyce Allene (Martin) Archer

Joyce "Joy" (Martin) Archer, 91, of Matador, Texas passed away on May 03, 2023 after a short battle with cancer.  She was surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Joy was the youngest of 4 children born to parents Curtis and Ethel (Hickman) Martin. She grew up on the Flying V O Ranch on Dutchman Creek in Matador where her parents bred and raised Hereford cattle.

After high school, she went on to study at Amarillo Northwest Texas Nursing School and Amarillo College. After college she worked as an office nurse for HG Traweek at Traweek Hospital in Matador and worked as a receptionist at the Matador Tribune.

On August 4, 1951 Joy married Leo Bennett Archer at her family home in Matador. In 1957 they left Matador and moved to Lubbock to raise their family. She and Leo returned to the ranch in 1980 to take over the family cattle business.

Joy was a very talented, avid artist and crafter with a wide repertoire of mediums, although painting was certainly her favorite. Joy was involved in the Matador art club. She was a board member of Motley County Museum where she created a mini replica of the early town of Matador. She was in charge of vendors in Matador for the Texas Sesquicentennial Celebration. 

Joy also loved bowling at competition level and was a member of the International Bowling Congress and board member of Lubbock Women’s Bowling. She worked at Oakwood Bowling lanes and the Lubbock Livestock Auction.

Joyce is survived by her husband of 72 years, Leo Archer; son Jon Archer and wife Cindi, daughter  Nancy Archer Branson; granddaughters Kristen Fears, Katelyn Branson, and Alexis Archer; grandson Clif Archer.

She  was preceded in death by her siblings; brother M.E. Martin, brother Curtis Ewell Martin, and sister Leona Martin Cox; son Russ Archer; granddaughter Shannon Archer and grandson Kyle Archer.