Joyce James

Joyce Ann Smith Dodd James, aka "Boots" passed away after an extended illness on April 21, 2017 in Integris Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was born in Hamlet, North Carolina on August 12, 1952.
Joyce graduated from High School in Winfield, Missouri. After High School she moved to St. Charles, Missouri where she met and married her first husband, Jessie Dodd. She and Jessie raised his two children from a previous marriage, Gene and Christy. She and Jessie later divorced and Joyce moved to Biloxi, Mississippi where she met and married her second husband, Paul James and they moved to Oklahoma.
Joyce was a hard worker with many versatile jobs. She once worked shipping lab rats for experimental purposes. She enjoyed being a bartender for many years. She worked at different types of manufacturing jobs, convenience and retail stores, including K-Mart. She excelled as an elderly caregiver, drawing each one into her circle of extended family. She enjoyed working at Laverne Venture Foods, talking to everyone and anyone, always with quick hello, a smile and a joke. Joyce was working at Western State Hospital in Ft. Supply when her cancer was discovered and she was forced into retirement to endure many surgeries and treatments.
She had a heart of gold. She loved everyone and wanted to make everyone laugh and was good at it. She had a huge extended family, people from all walks of life whom she included in her circle of love. She was a loyal friend and confidant, always with a listening and sympathetic ear.
Joyce loved to sing and had a beautiful God given voice. She performed in many night clubs and casinos. She also sang with Conway Twitty,
Chuck Berry and many other stars.
Her love of horses began as a child and continued her entire life. As a teenager she showed horses in Fun Shows. Her favorite childhood horse was Fury, and she told of many adventures with this horse. Joyce raised miniature horses in Laverne. She trained them to pull a cart and showed them in several parades. She called these her babies. She leaves behind Jet, Dixie, Angel and Little Man.
She loved all animals, could not stand for anyone to go hungry, human or other. She loved to feed stray cats and kittens and tried to find good homes for them. The lucky ones where brought inside and became her beloved house cats, also her babies. She leaves behind Boo Boo, Baby, Annabel, Puddin Duddin, and Ruckus.
After she became ill she adopted a German Shepard mix that became her guardian. Joyce trained her well and taught her many commands. Also left
behind is Kayla, another of Joyce's babies.
Joyce is preceded in death by one step-daughter, Christy Dodd.
Joyce is survived by her mother Betty Henry, Laverne, OK; one sister Joann Manwarren (Robert), Vici, OK; two brothers Billy Ray Smith and John Smith, both of Laverne, OK; as well as two ex-husbands Jesse Dodd and Paul James and one step-son Gene Dodd, Buffalo, OK.
Memorials made in Joyce's name be made to the charity of your choice.

Services:

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Myatt-Laverne Funeral Chapel in Laverne, Oklahoma.
Interment will follow in Laverne Cemetery in Laverne, Oklahoma.
Memorials made in Joyce's name may be made to the charity of your choice.