Mrs. Paris
Claudine Joyce Paris, 90, of San Marcos passed away peacefully on Sept. 17, 2026, at her home s u r r ou nd ed by her son and daughter (and dear f r iend, Ar i Helle). Born in 1935 in Salty, she was the youngest of five daughters born to Claude and Augusta Mullins. Her early years were shaped by country life and determination, including the long walk she made each school day from the family farm to Salty Elementary.
She graduated from Thorndale High School.
Joyce married Darrell Gene “Buddy” Paris in 1955 after he returned from the Korean War. They made their home in Salty and raised two sons and one daughter, Darrell Keith Paris, Clyde Allen Paris and Colleen Denise Paris (Ellington).
Later, after relocating to Austin, Joyce worked alongside and supported Darrell in several family-owned small businesses while also maintaining a steady and loving home life for her family. She was known for her loyalty, compassion and the care she gave so faithfully each day.
Among the many cherished memories she held, Joyce recalled being an angel in a Christmas play at Salty Elementary, wearing an angel costume handmade by her mother. That small childhood moment, preserved in a diary of her life, reflects the gentle spirit her family saw in her throughout the years. To her children, she was always “an angel on earth,” and that love and tenderness will remain part of her legacy.
She will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by those who knew her. Her family takes comfort in the life she lived, the home she created, and the example she set through quiet devotion and everyday grace.
A service will be held at the Salty Cemetery at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25.