JoAnn (Kirk) LaMunyon

JoAnn LaMunyon, age 90, a resident of Belen, NM, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2023. She was born on March 2, 1933, in Childress, TX. For most of JoAnn's early life, she lived in Tucumcari, NM, where she graduated from Tucumcari High School in 1951. She was once the Quay County New Mexico State Fair Queen. Later in her life, she retired from her position as a librarian for Gallup-McKinley County Schools. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Belen, and a fierce competitor in numerous Women's Bowling Leagues in Gallup, Belen, and Isleta, NM, in which she won multiple awards. She loved bird-watching; hummingbirds being some of her favorites to see. After moving to Belen, she and her husband, pursued their love and passion for horses by breeding and raising Quarterhorse Race Horses. She enjoyed going to horse races, horse shows, and rodeos, and loved watching football and golf on TV. JoAnn enjoyed baking and loved Chocolate and Krispy Kreme. She was an excellent cook, and often shared her creations with those closest to her. She was a devoted grandmother, and always had a deep love for children whom she loved to share her famous homemade cakes, cookies, and pies with. A kindhearted woman, she often made donations to various causes and charities throughout her life. One of JoAnn's favorite hobbies was gardening, where she would spend a great deal of her time. She enjoyed listening to Gospel, Christian, and Country music. As a woman of faith, she was passionate about going to church and attending Sunday School Classes. She was generous, selfless, strong, and resilient, all qualities of hers that will be forever remembered by all who knew her.

JoAnn is preceded in death by her husband, Bob LaMunyon; daughter, Rhonda Jo Hathorn; baby son, Larry E. LaMunyon; grandson, Michael Jarrett Spolar; father, James E. Kirk; mother, Jewel Mitchell; brothers, B.J. and Duane Kirk; and sisters, Mabel Mitchell, Betty Bruhn, Dorothy Wagner, Nelda Martin, and Beverly Wiese.

She is survived by her daughter, Vicki Spolar (Michael) of Chandler, AZ; son, Bill LaMunyon (Barbara) of Los Lunas, NM; son-in-law, Norman Hathorn of Belen, NM; twin sister, JoEvelyn Morton of Tucumcari, NM; granddaughter, Kristal Morales; grandsons, Chris Johnson, Billy Hathorn, and Tyler LaMunyon; granddaughter-in-law, Staci Spolar; great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Alice, Emma, Caesar, and Athan; great-great-granddaughter, Scarlett; and many nephews and nieces.

Services for JoAnn will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2023, at Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel beginning with a Visitation at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Terrace Grove Cemetery immediately following.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., (505) 864-4448, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com.

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