Joyce Ray Sanders

Joyce Ray Sanders, 80, the beloved matriarch of the Sanders clan, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2025, holding hands with her youngest daughter, Diana Sanders-Revalee and her grandson, Logan Revalee. Born on January 3, 1945, in Modesto, California, Joyce’s greatest joy and achievement was her large, close-knit family.

As a mother of three, grandmother of nine, and a great-grandmother of five, Joyce was the heart of the Sanders Family. She was never missed at a holiday celebration or life milestone. Joyce had a knack for remembering every birthday, anniversary, and important date in her children’s and grandchildren’s lives, never failing to send a card or make a call. Her homemade banana bread was legendary, and she delighted in teaching the recipe to anyone, just to spread the joy.

With a Master’s in education, Joyce became an educator and dedicated 30 + years to shaping young minds and inspiring a love for learning in the students at her Special Education High School classes, both in Modesto, California as well as in Grants, New Mexico decades earlier.

An avid reader, Joyce acquired a vast collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy novels, sharing the love of

the genre with her children. Her favorites were Andre Norton and Stephen King. She was a “Mega Trekkie,” loving everything Star Trek. Growing up in California, one of her favorite stories to share was that her classmate in school was George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars. Story goes that he would always put water in her chair in class. This connection caused her and her family to all become diehard Star Wars fans as well.

Joyce is survived by her three children, Michael Jones, Delena Jordan, and Diana Sanders-Revalee, her 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. A private family service will be held on Saturday, September 27 at the Revalee’s. A Celebration of Life for Joyce will be held at a later date for anyone interested in attending. At this time, the family will be sharing Joyce’s cherished recipes and family stories, ensuring that her legacy of love and togetherness continues for generations to come.