Tammy Thompson awarding a beautiful purple Double J Headstall to Twyla Vaira the Joyce Arms Memorial Best Dressed Circuit Finalist at the Four Seasons Arena in Great Falls, January 17, 2010.
Twyla wrote:
A Big THANK YOU to Tammy Thompson and her family for awarding “Best Dressed at the Montana Circuit Finals.” This award was given in memory of Montana WPRA member Joyce Arms, Tammy’s mother. I will treasure this beautiful headstall and Splash will wear it with pride. Twyla and Splash
I Live For This
The thrill, the speed,
the challenge.
The cowgirls, the horses,
the timer, the barrels.
The pain, the dust,
the dirt, the hard times.
I live for this.
The heart in my throat,
the shaky hands, the jittery stomach.
The goin’ for it, the winnin’,
the losin’, the sweat, the tears.
I live for this.
It’s my life and I love it.
I live for it.
Every second of every day.
The looks, the smiles,
the good lucks, the tough luck.
The bruises, the broken bones,
the scuffs, the scars.
I live for this.
I live for the seconds at a time
that I spend in the spotlight
On horse, one cowgirls, three barrels
against a timer. No one judge me for it.
I live for this.
Joyce Elene (Craddock) Arms passed away Saturday, April 4, 2009, pursuing her life’s passion in Bozeman, Montana.
Joyce was born in Butte on March 31, 1949, to William and Corrine (Sennett) Craddock. She attended Ramsay School and went on to graduate from Butte High School and Butte Business College, where she became a dental hygienist. She ultimately pursued her passion and became a professinal barrel racer.
Joyce met her husband Ben at a fall dance in Dewey, Montana, when she was in 8th grade. They were married on December 6, 1969, in Butte and had their only daughter, Tammy, on June 3, 1971.
Joyce was truly a cowgirl from the word go and gave new meaning to the term “cowgirl up.” Her love for family and animals was seconded by none. She enjoyed the ranching lifestyle and was happiest chasing cows and running her horses around the barrels. She was active in 4-H growing up and continued as a 4-H leader. Among her accomplishments was Rookie of the Year Barrel Racer in the Northern Rodeo Association, Year End Champion for the NBHA, along with many victories along the way. Her love and passion for horses allowed her to train numerous prospects into professional caliber barrel horses. Her passion continues with the next two generations as she inspired them to enjoy the love and freedom that comes with barrel racing. When she wasn’t playing with her horses she spent endless time enjoying her two granddaughters, Samantha and Ashley. Joyce had a heart of true giving and always thought of others selflessly and will be truly missed.
Joyced is preceded in death by her father, William Craddock, father-in-law Ben H. Arms; and her aunt and uncle, Bea and George Wold. She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Ben Arms of Ramsay; daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Dan Thompson of Ramsay; granddaughters, Samantha and Ashley of Ramsay; mother, Corrine Craddock of Ramsay; sister and brother-in-law, Judy and Terry Archer of Ramsay; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bevery and Archive Hill of Butte; nephew, David and Janel Archer and family of Jackson, Calif.; niece, Dana and Chris Anderson and family of Belgrade, Mont.; brother-in-law, Jay and Geri and family of Anaconda; sister-in-law, Michelle and Tom Daniels and family of Glen, Mont.; plus her special barrel racing friends.
Memorials may be made to the Linda Ottun Memorial Association, 4612 Hoskin Road, Billings MT 59105.
A TRIBUTE TO MY VERY SPECIAL FRIEND, JOYCE ARMS
from Tammy Novotny
Joyce and I have been good friends for the last 16 years. We shared our homes and corrals with each other whenever there was a barrel race or rodeo close to our homes.
The first time my girls and I stayed at Ben and Joyce’s was in 1994. We noticed how their home possessed a warmth and comfort I can not describe. From that point on everytime we stayed at their home we would sit at her kitchen table, Joyce and I sipping on a red beer, and talk for HOURS in her beautiful and bold, red kitchen. In the morning our conversations would pick up where we left off. She was so easy to talk to that half the time we would be late getting to the barrel race because we would lose track of time.
We loved having Tammy and Joyce stay at our home also. Especially my husband, John – he said he loved seeing her truck and trailer in the yard because he knew he had someone to tease. Joyce was so good natured about it though and would just laugh that beautiful laugh she had. Joyce and my girls and I had so many wonderful conversations at our kitchen counter – long into the night – that’s what my youngest daughter, Allie, remembers the most - probably because she got to stay up so late.
Cell phones were a true blessing for Joyce and I as we would call each other to ask a simple question and 2 hours later (literally) we would decide it is probably time to hang up.
The one word that comes to mind when I think of Joyce is CLASSY – always looking so beautiful and yet possessing the independence and toughness that made her a TRUE COWGIRL. I have never met anyone so passionate and persistent to achieve to be a top notch horsewoman and successful barrel racer. Joyce was always researching and pursuing to learn more about her horses and the sport she loved so devoutly – barrel racing. She was never afraid to try something new.
One of my daughters, Annie’s, fondest memories was when we traveled to the NBHA Finals in Ogden, Utah in 2000 in Joyce’s motor home. This was a real treat for us. One morning when we were getting dressed for competition we noticed some pink stones on the table. Annie, who was 11 yrs. old at the time, asked Joyce what the pink stones were for. Joyce replied that she heard that if you put these pink stones in your bra they would bring you good luck. She proceeded to ask Annie if she would like some. Annie very shyly replied – “Joyce, I don’t wear a bra”.
I loved when in our conversations Joyce would say in her own way – “What’s dues you think about this?” or “I’s was gonna try this – what’s dues you thinks about that?” It always made me feel special when she would ask my opinion.
Joyce had such a playful side too – My daughter, Bailee, remembers 2 years ago when Joyce came to the Wednesday night Big Sky Barrel Race in Helena and handed out blue, bubble gum cigars because her mare had foaled. At the following Wednesday night barrel race she handed out pink bubble gum cigars as her other mare had foaled.
Her smile, her shiny blue eyes, her voice, her talent to tell such descriptive stories, her willingness to be a true friend are going to be so sorely missed.
One of Joyce’s lifetime goals was to make the NFR. Well, Joyce, you have finally made it – where you will never have to worry again about lameness or soundness problems, and where you will ride only the best of horses. HEAVEN – where the NFR stands for “NEVER your FINAL RIDE”.
In closing I would like to share with all of you a message – Joyce has faced what all of us will one day face. In the moment when we face death, there is only one thing that matters. And that is whether or not you have a relationship with Jesus. The Bible tells us that our time on earth is but a blink of an eye (James 4:14) compared with eternity. That being so, your eternal destination should be of utmost importance.
So, friends,make this a priority today if you haven’t already so that we can all be guaranteed eternity in Heaven with God, Our Father, and our beautiful friend, Joyce Arms.
