Joyce Matz Hill's Obituary
My mother and best friend, Joyce Matz Hill, was born May 1, 1944 in Brownsville, Texas and passed away peacefully on March 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas surrounded by myself and very close friends.
Joyce was the third child of Eleanor and EO Matz, and grew up in Harlingen, Texas. Driven by adventure, she was excited to leave the Rio Grande Valley to attend college. Joyce was at Trinity University for one year. Longing to further expand her horizons, she moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas where she thrived socially as a member of Alpha Chi Omega and scholastically, earning a BA. It was there that she met my dad, Mike Hill, who was a waiter at her sorority house. They dated post-graduation in Houston, Texas where they ultimately married. Within a few years of marriage, and in the first year of my dad’s busy and thriving career in 1971, my parents were shocked, excited (and very scared!) when my tiny mother delivered TWO VERY overdue, large, and healthy babies. From that day forward we were the pride and joys of her life.
My mom spent the next twenty years being the best mom, the best wife and the best friend to others while at the same time maintaining a successful interior design business. Happy-Joyce, as people called her, was a force: she was an accomplished tennis player; she ran 6 miles everyday rain or shine; never missed a carpool loop; made lunches, snacks, dinner and managed and supported the many activities that come with two active children. All the while carrying her beauty and fashion sense as if it were second nature, My mom was real – to the core. Her beauty outside was only surpassed by her genuine beauty inside.
After raising me and my brother, my beloved mom had a full and joyous life including travels around the globe with me and also Manfred Jachmich. She had a residence in not only Houston, but also later in life in Aspen, Colorado, Scottsdale, Arizona, and California, with her husband for the last 18 years, Robert West. She had family and numerous friends in each locale and savored her time with them all the while guarding and nurturing her highest priority, my brother and me.
Joyce was preceded in death by her three siblings and sadly by my twin brother, John Michael Hill, her heart and soul. John left this world unexpectedly on April 24, 2023, after a battle with metastatic melanoma.
She is survived by her daughter (me), Ashley Elizabeth Hill, many amazing, steadfast friends, and her husband, Robert West and his children.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church at 3471 Westheimer Road, Houston, Texas 77027. I will be honored by your attendance and will receive guests following the ceremony in the Fellowship Hall.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are J.J. Abraham, John Browning, Mark Burroughs Jr., John Ellis, Blake Turner and J. Nolan Renobato.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s honor may be made to Citizens for Animal Protection, 17555 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas 77094.
A special sincere thank you to my mother’s amazing caretakers Keny, Bethony, Oge, Mona Liza, Ade, Christie and especially Iris who, in my mother’s final days, assured her comfort and surroundings of love. As well as that of my own.
Additionally, I would like to express my deep appreciation to Dr. Patrick Solcher and Blue Star Hospice.
All my love to all who have held me close in the darkest yet of my days,
Ashley
What’s your fondest memory of Joyce?
What’s a lesson you learned from Joyce?
Share a story where Joyce's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Joyce you’ll never forget.
How did Joyce make you smile?