Joyce Mae Minton

Joyce Mae Minton was welcomed home to Heaven by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ following her peaceful passing on Sunday evening, August 25, 2024. She was born November 12, 1934, in Wichita, Kansas to James Howard Slaymaker and Vergie Mildred Cummings.

Joyce graduated from North High School in Wichita, Kansas in 1952. She and Frank Minton were High School sweethearts. They were married on November 16, 1956, at the First Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma by the Rev. E.F. "Preacher" Hallock. Joyce married a left-handed pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers who later became a pastor. Through their many years of ministry, they loved pastoring the churches God lead them to in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Ohio, California and Alaska. In their retirement, they became faithful members of the First Montgomery Baptist Church in Montgomery, Texas.

Joyce was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, loving sister, faithful friend and a faithful follower of her Lord Jesus Christ. When she was 19 years old, she trusted Jesus as her personal Savior during a revival service at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Wichita, Kansas.

Joyce loved research for genealogy and non-fiction books. She loved book clubs and movies. She liked to cook and make many delicious recipes including her fried chicken, blueberry banana cream pie, Swedish pancakes and 'Melt in Your Mouth' dessert. She was reserved, liked to observe and learn and she was great with details. She was a good listener and loved music. She loved taking photographs of her family. You could rarely leave her house without her gathering everyone together for a picture. She would always say, "They were the things that would last!" and she did cherish those memories. She showed how much she loved you with actions, even more than her words.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, James Howard Slaymaker and Vergie Mildred Cummings and her sister, Vicki Hall. Joyce is survived by her loving husband, of over 67 years, Rev. Frank Dean Minton of Montgomery, Texas, her one son, Bruce Minton of Cincinnati, Ohio, her three daughters, Lori Benson and husband, John Mark of Houston, Texas, Lisa Gavlick and husband, Robert of Houston, Texas and Lesli Boyles and husband, Darryl of Castle Rock, Colorado. She had 13 grandchildren, Mikelle (Mike) Challenger, Steven (Gabriela) Benson, Josh Boyles, Pepe Penafiel (Gabriela), Laura (Chad) Corrigan, Gloria (David) Brown, Jenna (Neal) Schering, Alejandro (Amaya) Penafiel, Emily (Ethan) Leffel, Conner Minton, Brooke (Justin) Merck, Megan Boyles and Chandler Boyles along with 22 great-grandchildren (and one on the way), all who lovingly called her "Nina", plus numerous nieces and nephews who loved her dearly. She is also survived by her one sister, Patricia Buck and her husband, Robert of Shawnee, Kansas and two brothers, John Slaymaker and his wife, Kathleen of Wichita, Kansas and James Lee Slaymaker and his wife, Jackie of Manhattan, Kansas.

A celebration of Joyce's life will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at the First Montgomery Baptist Church, 20432 Eva Street, Montgomery, Texas 77356 at 10:00 a.m. The viewing will begin prior at 9:00 a.m. The service will be officiated by Senior Pastor, Chris Gober and music by Worship Pastor, Jon Sheptock. The graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery, 8601 Almeda-Genoa Road, Houston, Texas 77075.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the First Montgomery Baptist Church in memory of Joyce.