Joyce Lee Esparza Ayers, age 62 of Buchanan, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 7, 2024.  Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on June 2, 1962, she was the daughter of the late Daniel Esparza and the late Helen Anderson Esparza.

A 1993 graduate of West Central Technical College, Joyce enjoyed life.  One of her talents was arguing, and she was good at it.  At home, Joyce loved to read, do puzzles, play bingo, and knit things for the family.  She also enjoyed traveling to casinos, but her passion was her family.  She will be dearly missed.

Left to cherish her memories are her daughters, April (Adam) McClellan of Panama City Beach, FL, Tonya (Ashley) Ayers of Temple, and Catrina Ayers of Buchanan; her sisters, Evelyn (Wesley) Dockery of Temple and Thelma Knight of Lubbock, Texas; and her brothers Daniel Esparza of Villa Rica, Shawn Esparza of Villa Rica, and Richard Esparza of Texas. Also surviving are her precious grandchildren: Ariana, Alexis, Ariel, Chance, A.J., Cameron, Tayllor, Nevaeh, Trenton, Trinity, Joseph, and Cooper Daniel; her great-grandchildren: Amara, Alani, Ryan, Daniel, and Paisley; as well as other extended family and friends.

In keeping with Joyce's wishes, she will be cremated.

Cremation services have been entrusted to Hutcheson's Memorial Chapel & Crematory of Buchanan