Ila Joyce Hadder Perry

Ila “Joyce” Hadder Perry, 93, entered the gates of heaven on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Roswell, New Mexico. Please take a moment to share a fond memory or expression of sympathy for Joyce’s family at www.andersonbethany.com. There will be a Funeral Service for Joyce at Central Church of the Nazarene, 901 E. Country Club Road, Roswell NM, on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 10 am. Interment will follow at General Douglas L. McBride Veterans Cemetery. Ila Joyce Hadder Perry was born in Roswell, New Mexico on August 12, 1930. Joyce spent her childhood with her parents and four older brothers helping on the family farm. She loved rescuing and caring for her many rabbits, chickens, cats, dogs, and sheep, which she received from her father. She had a love for gardening, which she received from her mother as a child, and this continued on later in her life. As an exemplary scholar, she was often asked to tutor students and fill in for teachers as a substitute teacher. Joyce loved riding her bike around Roswell and would go as far off as East Grand Plains and into the heart of downtown Roswell. She would talk about seeing one of the natural Artesian spring wells near South Central Roswell and watching rocks sink in the quicksand out by the Bottomless Lakes with her friends and as she would say her “battle buddy”, best friend aka brother James. Joyce graduated from Roswell High School, class of 1948. Later in adulthood, Joyce went on to pursue a degree at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California. In her twenties, Joyce traveled to California and got her first job working for one of the first JCPenney’s. Her responsibilities were to balance the cash drawer and she was later promoted to bookkeeping tasks as she found discrepancies that her associates had overlooked. She was quite proud of this accomplishment since this was unheard of by young female employees. While caring for her mother in California, Joyce met her Navy sailor boy, Wesley Lee Perry in Alhambra through Wes’ Aunt Helen, and Joyce's Mom, Ila Mae, who were neighbors at that time. With a chance meeting in a game of chess, Joyce invited Wes to church throughout their courtship which led to Wes accepting God as his Lord and Savior. Joyce went on to exchange nuptial vows with Wes on December 1, 1951. They raised their family while Wes was stationed in San Diego, working for Pacific Bell throughout Los Angeles, California. In the late 80’s they returned to Joyce’s hometown of Roswell, New Mexico. They remained married for 67 years until Wes passed away in 2018. Joyce’s family helped donate the land for the first Nazarene Church in Roswell. Joyce loved hanging out and leaning on her friends in the Nazarene Church. Joyce enjoyed attending First Church of the Nazarene and transitioning into Central Church of the Nazarene. She advocated for all her children, biological, fostered, and adopted. Although she had many heartaches in life growing up and into her adulthood, she would often say that the Lord helped her empathize with all the children who came through her home. Joyce’s friends, family, and children who knew her best would all agree that she not only was a mother but also an artist, a Sunday school teacher, and a nurse. Joyce, like her husband, never drank or smoked, she would often joke that despite all of her other health issues and her being 93, she still had amazing lungs! Joyce was a caring mother of thirteen children, thirty grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. She had a positive outlook on life and always reminded her children to pray for God’s guidance as she guided them to focus on a solution to a problem, reminding them that “God is Love.” She advised others to “Always learn something new every day if you can.” She took great pride in sharing how proud she was of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and always asked her church family to keep them in their prayers. Although this is a hard time for Joyce's family, they take joy and peace knowing that she has been reunited with their father. Preceding Joyce in her death are her parents: John and Ila Mae Pettycourt-Hadder; brothers: John Hadder, Perry Hadder, Joe Hadder, and James Hadder; son, Dennis M. Perry; grandsons: Brandon M. Perry and Christopher M. Perry. Remaining to cherish memories of Joyce are her sons: David L. Perry, Dalvin L. Perry, Darron W. Perry, Darrell M, Perry, and James M. Perry; daughters: Darla J. Higgins, Danna J. Contreras, Tamara J. Hazleton, Margarita J. Perry-Levandowski, Danita G. Perry, Stephanie J. Anderson, Ila N. Perry; thirty-two grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; nephews; nieces; and cousins. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to Bonita Park, Angus, New Mexico, or Central Church of Nazarene in Roswell New Mexico, in memory of Ila Joyce Hadder Perry. Joyce’s family lovingly wrote her tribute in her honor.

Ila Joyce Hadder Perry

August 12, 1930 - April 10, 2024