Joyce Ann Ray, 71

Joyce Ann Ray, beloved mother, wife, sister, grandmother and friend, lost her courageous battle with cancer on April 5, 2016. She passed away peacefully in Kalispell. The power of love from her family and friends, stronger than any chemotherapy drug, extended her life a year longer than expected.

Born October 10, 1944, in Napa, California, Joyce was the daughter and eldest child of the late Bill Kirkendall and Betty Blythe. Growing up, she attended school in Napa, but spent most of her childhood in Booneville, Arkansas, where she lived with her grandparents, Emmett and Ollie Blythe. Joyce graduated from Booneville High School in 1962.

After starting a family and moving to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Joyce pursued a bachelor’s degree in accounting, graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1979. One of her proudest accomplishments, she achieved this while also working and raising four children. Joyce then began a career in banking, and worked in this field until she retired as vice president of Commercial Real Estate from Texas American Bank in Fort Worth.

Once retired, Joyce traveled extensively with her devoted and adoring husband, Travis Ray. Her favorite trip was a backpacking adventure in Turkey. She and Travis also spent considerable time at their second home at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Northwest Montana. It was there she was introduced to sea kayaking, which quickly became a passion, leading to an epic two-week excursion along the Canadian Pacific Coast. Her other passions included riding horses, hiking, painting and reading, but said her greatest joy was her children, Mike Naranjo of Kalispell, Pam Rhea-Peters of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Paige Rhea-Money of Carlsbad, California, and Marcus Naranjo of Burleson, Texas.

Those now mourning include her husband and children; a brother, Gene Kirkendall, of Lakeport, California and his family; four grandchildren, Patric Peters and Rachel Peters of Bowling Green, and Harrison Money and Grace Money of Carlsbad; as well as many friends.

Joyce was preceded in death by her sister, Diane Kirkendall.

A memorial to celebrate her life will be held May 6, 2016, at St. Anthony’s Episcopal Church in Alvarado, Texas.