May 19, 1967 – July 15, 2022
Joan Amy Curley, 55, of Eagle Butte, passed away Friday, July 15, 2022, at her home in Eagle Butte.
Funeral services were held Monday, July 25, 2022, at the CRST Bingo Hall in Eagle Butte. Burial followed in the Iron Lightning Family Cemetery at Iron Lightning. Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg was in charge of arrangements.
Joan Amy Curley was born to Cecil and Amy Iron Lightning Curley on May 19,1967 in Eagle Butte, the youngest of 14 children. Joan grew up in Iron Lightning and later moved to Eagle Butte. She attended school in Eagle Butte and later got her GED along with a certificate in painting. Joan had different jobs throughout her life. She lived in Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Saint Paul, Oregon, and Dupree.
On February 5, 1985, she welcomed her first child, Jonnelle Rae Curley and on March 19, 1998, D’Shawn Star Eagle Chasing.
Joan enjoyed life; she was always ready for a good time. She made many friends everywhere she went. She enjoyed being around her many nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. She helped raise some of them.
Joan’s adopted families included: Jaeson Starr, Carmen, Kaye, and Floyd Annis, Patsy Long family, the late Duke and Carole Dupree families, Russell and the late Cordelia Benoist families, Eagle Staff family, and Emily Lawrence. After a long battle with her health in June, Joan decided that she no longer wanted to fight and just to live her last days surrounded by family. She brought the family together to laugh, cry and visit with each other, remembering Joanie the way she wanted. When she took her last breath, she was surrounded by her loved ones.
Joanie was a strong woman, and although she experienced illness and her body was shutting down, her heart remained very strong. Her brother, Jr., gave Joan her Lakota name “Strong Heart Woman.”
Joan is survived by her daughter, D’Shaun Star; grandchildren: Jeryn, Jhet’Taun, Drew, Kai’Viaun, Khaida, Kelson, CJay, Leroy, and Covin; sisters: Linda Addison, Amelia (Chris) Curley, Melissa (Marcell) Jewett, and E.Rose (Dane) LeBeau; brothers: Keith (Deloris) Curley, Jr. Curley, and Irving Curley; and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Jonnelle Rae Curley; sister, Grace Agneaux; brothers: Arlen, Mervin Andrew “Big A”, Myron, Kenny, and Danny Curley; nephews: Terry and Jerry Curley, Grant Langley, CJ Addison, Joe Brown Wolf, Courtney “Koko” Curley, and Misun Curley; nieces: SherRon Langley, Tessa and Jean Curley; and grandchildren Kyle and Koy Curley.