Joyce Minzenmayer Porche Cooper

Joyce Minzenmayer Porche Cooper, 76 of Abilene , passed away Friday, December 16th, 2011 at a local nursing center. A graveside service is scheduled for 2:00 pm Wednesday December 21, 2011 at Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St . A visitation is scheduled for Tuesday evening from 5-7 pm at the funeral home.


Joyce was born December 25, 1934 in Schulenburg , TX to Otto Walter Minzenmayer and Hilda Jochen, who passed away a few months after Joyce's birth. Joyce was raised by her father and step-mother Hilda Lehman Minzenmayer. While she was growing up she lived in several different places in Central Texas and in the Winters area. She attended Bartlett High School. Upon marriage she moved to Lafayette, Louisiana where she raised her children and lived for 35 years until 1988, when she moved to Abilene. She worked in retail and also as a caregiver for several Abilene families.


Surviving Joyce are her four children; Pat Gibson of Abilene, Dianne Summers of Dawsonville, GA, Dickie Porche and wife Becky of Abilene and Cindy Latham and husband Jeff of Abilene; a brother, Hiram "Bud" Minzenmayer and wife Alma of Abbeville, LA; sisters,Nancy Wooley and her husband Ray from Bartlett, TX, and Mary Nichols and husband Horace of Katy, TX; seven grandchildren, Rebecca Mark and husband Tyler, Julie Winters and husband David, Matt Summers and wife Lauren, Ryan Porche and wife Claudia, Kami Pope and husband Brandon, Aaron Stone and Andy Stone as well as 5 great-grandsons. Preceding her in death was her mother, father, step-mother, a brother Edwin Minzenmayer, a sister Irene Lewis, and her second husband Remel Ray Cooper.


The family requests that donations be made to Hendrick Hospice, 1682 Hickory St. , 79601 or to your favorite charity. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.


The family would also like to thank Northern Oaks Nursing Home staff and Hendrick Hospice Care, especially Becky and Dianna, with special thanks to Dr. John Wray and Dr. Nancy Dagubatti.