Joan Pinnell

Joan Carol Pinnell, of Melrose, NM, died Sept. 11, 2014 at Covenant Hospital in Lubbock, TX following a long battle with cancer.She was 78.
Nan was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother and was the matriarch of a large and accomplished family. She was born Aug. 3, 1936 in Archer City, Texas, to the home of James Harry and Violet Ivy Sheets. She graduated from high school in Adrian, Texas in 1954. While at Adrian, Joan was a standout basketball player in the traditional sixwoman game, honing a competitiveness that would follow her the rest of her life.
She moved to Adrian from Archer City as a freshman in high school, immediately catching the eye of a local boy. Tuff Pinnell saw Joan get off the school bus one day and told his friends, Thats the girl Im going to marry. The pair hit it off right away and were inseparable for more than 59 years. Joan lived on a ranch 40 miles from Adrian in one direction and Tuff lived on a farm and ranch 25 miles in the other direction. With numerous gates to open and close in between, a date, which might include a trip to Amarillo, was a commitment. Eventually, Joan would stay with Tuffs three sisters over the weekend so the two could have a date.
Joan and Tuff married Jan. 15, 1955 in Adrian. They moved to a ranch near Melrose, New Mexico, where they would make their permanent home and raise four children. Joan loved sports, especially high school sports, and followed her children throughout their high school careers. At that point, the maroon and white of Melrose High School were the key colors in her travel wardrobe. But as the children began to raise Joan and Tuffys 15 grandchildren, the color scheme expanded mightily. She never missed a game, whether she was wearing the orange and black of the Fort Sumner Foxes and Vixens or the green and white of the House Cowboys and Cowgirls. The green and white worked for the Texico Wolverines and Lady Wolverines as well, and the maroon and white came back into style again for grandchildren in Melrose.
She continued to expand her collection, following 23 greatgrandchildren, with two more on the way.
Greater than her love of family and sports was her love of God. She was a strong Christian woman and shared Jesus Christ with everyone she met. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Melrose for 56 years. She taught Sunday School for 45 of those years. She loved to sing, especially gospel songs, which could be heard in her kitchen with the family gathered for a holiday feast. She also sang in annual community cantatas and never turned down a request to sing at the funerals of friends and neighbors.
Besides her unequaled love for her grandchildren, Joan loved to garden and thoroughly enjoyed her flowers. She raised her children to do things right and passed on her character and commitment to that end.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Tuff Pinnell of the family home three daughters, Robin Wood and husband Joel of Fort Sumner Karen Downey and husband Craig of House Dana Harris and husband Ronne of Texico and a son, Tod Pinnell and wife Shelli of Texico.
She is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Jason Wood and partner Allison Garrett of Fort Sumner Leslie Carter and husband Price of Clovis Lance Wood of Fort Sumner Julie Lockmiller and husband Justin, of Clovis Calvin Downey and wife Lisa of Ima, NM Charity Sena and husband Phil of Melrose Preston Downey of House Liberty Beaulieu and husband Jay of Tallahassee, FL Jessica Mitchell and husband Chris of Lubbock, TX Jaryse Harris, Rustin Harris, Rallin Harris, Morgan Pinnell, Mitchell Pinnell and Micah Pinnell, all of Texico, NM. Also surviving are 23 greatgrandchildren and a host of treasured nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Violet Murdock a sister, Dorothy Wright and a niece Jane Ham.
Services will be held Monday, Sept. 15, 2014 at Melrose High School Physical Education Complex, starting at 3 p.m. Burial will follow at the Melrose Cemetery. Rev. Durwood Wofford will officiate. Pall bearers will be her grandsons, Calvin Downey, Preston Downey, Jason Wood, Lance Wood, Rustin Harris, Rallin Harris and Mitchell Pinnell.
Honorary pall bearers will be members of Joans Sunday School class the family of the late Troyce Mitchell the family of the late Bob Franklin the family of the late Deon Dodd Eldon Blackburn and family Forrest Brockman and family Les Maupin, Sandy Hill, and all friends and neighbors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the New Mexico Baptist Childrens Home, Portales, NM.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of SteedTodd Funeral Home and Crematory, 800 E Manana Blvd, Clovis, New Mexico 575 7635541.

Visitation

SteedTodd Funeral Home
800 E. Manana
Clovis, NM  88101
Saturday, September 13, 2014
108

Service

Melrose High School Gym
100 Missouri Avenue
Melrose, NM  88124
Monday, September 15, 2014
3:00 PM

Cemetery

Melrose Cemetery
Center St.
Melrose, NM  88124