Joyce Beverly Leafdale Bunch

Joyce Beverly Leafdale, 89, was born Sept. 18, 1935, in Denver, Colo., and was the only child of Art and Marjorie Leafdale.

She was very young when her father Art moved them to Lance Creek, Wyo., to work in the oil fields, following the oil boom. The family eventually settled in the tiny town of Thermopolis, Wyo. After graduating from High School, she married a Thermopolis native, Ed Bunch. Their first child, Vickie Ray, was born in Billings, Mon., and their second child, Jeffrey Clay was born in Lovell, Wyo. They relocated to Litchfield, Ariz., where they had their 3rd child, Lisa Gay. In 1968, they resettled in the mountain town of Prescott, Ariz., where Joyce spent the next (nearly) 60 years of her life, embedding into the local community.

She had an entrepreneurial spirit and a sharp business mind, and she put that to good use in the next several decades of her life. She was very involved with her kids, keeping them busy with sports and showing horses. She sold Port-aStall barns, and Stidham horse trailers for many years, until the purchase of several restaurants in Prescott: the Bronze Saddle Supper Club, Sunset Hills Restaurant, Dairy Queen and Burger Queen. She managed much of the day-to-day operations, and the accounting aspect of the restaurants. In 1982, she opened the Travel Connection, a successful travel agency located on Gurley Street, that she ran with her son Jeff. She loved to travel, and was able to see the world and explore places that she'd only dreamed of as a "small town girl."

She retired and closed Travel Connection after 30 years in business. She always felt that her greatest achievement was her children, and her happiest moments were when she was surrounded by family. Joyce will be remembered by her family and friends, as a kind, selfless woman with a brilliant mind and a giving heart. Her Christian faith kept her grounded throughout her life, and she lived by the values she held dear: God, family, country.

She leaves behind her surviving children, Vickie Stuart, Jeff Bunch and Lisa Jess; grandchildren, Ivan Stuart, Chelsey Stone, Brandon Bunch, Lex Paul Middleton and Lane Paul; eight great-grandchildren, Ben Bunch, Matt Bunch, Jacob Bunch, Lincoln Paul, Levi Paul, Stran Stuart, Stella Stuart and Sam Stone.

A public graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 29, at 11 a.m., at Mountain View

Cemetery in Prescott, Ariz. A celebration of Joyce's life will be held following her service at Freeman Bldg., The Rock House in Prescott.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you place donations with Maggie's Hospice of Prescott, maggieshospice.com