Thelma Joyce Hamilton

Thelma Joyce (Latta) Hamilton was born February 1, 1935 at the family farm north of Fargo, Oklahoma to John H. Latta and Reva Arlene (Atkinson) Latta.  She passed away at the age of eighty years, ten months, and seven days.

Joyce spent her childhood on the family farm north of Fargo, where she helped with the farm chores, including milking cows, tending chickens, and gardening, as well as riding.  She also learned to cook, sew, and pinch pennies.  With four siblings, there were a lot of fun times, including playing basketball.  She was an excellent ball player and her team made it to the state tournament her senior year.  She scored thirty points in their final game.  After graduating from Fargo High School as salutatorian, she attended Daughon’s Business College in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, graduating in September, 1954.  She married Dick D. Hamilton on June 4, 1955.  To this union, four children were born: Kathryn Ann, Linda Joyce, Patricia Ruth, and Martin Richard.

Joyce was employed by Tonkawa Refinery for thirteen years and Cudd Pressure Control for eighteen years with a few other jobs in between, retiring from Cudd in 2007.  Her co-workers describe Joyce as their mentor and an inspiration. She also owned cattle and worked with her son on the ranch where she lived from 1965 until her death.  She thoroughly enjoyed working outside and her yard shows it.  She was an OSU fan and loved going to football games with her daughter, Linda.  She continued to love basketball also and attended nearly every one of her kids’ games as well as many of her grandkid’s games.  She was very involved in the activities of her children and grandchildren, making many a trip to Houston, Texas and Edmond, Oklahoma to watch grandkids play in tennis matches.  She also frequently traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma and Lubbock, Texas to spend time with her grandkids while they were in college.  There was always fun to be had and she wanted to be part of it.  She was so loved by her children and grandchildren that one granddaughter, and two great-granddaughters were named after her.  Joyce was fiercely independent, competitive, well-informed, tough, determined, and opinionated on one hand and on the other, she was loving, caring, gentle, attentive, loyal, honest, fair, spiritual, and generous. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her children, as well as eleven grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings and their spouses: Dwight and Sue Latta, Ernest Latta, John and Rella Latta, and Pat Latta Highfill.  She was preceded in death by her daughter, Patricia Ruth, and her parents, John H and Reva Latta.

She was a faithful member of Holy Name Catholic Church and St. Peter’s Catholic Church and served as Eucharistic Minister for many years.  Memorials may be offered to Holy Name Catholic Church, 106 Cedar Ridge, Shattuck, Oklahoma 73858.  A memorial service will be held Monday, December 28, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, in Woodward, Oklahoma.

Arrangements are under the direction of OK Cremation and Funeral Home, Oklahoma City.