Joyce Allred Remembered!

02 Jul Joyce Allred Remembered!

In Telluride the Fourth of July tradition, which began in the 1880s, had gotten out of control some time in the early 1970s, (Read way too many bikers.). So Town cancelled all the Big Events until further notice. When holiday fun was reinstated on the summer calendar a year or two later, the whoop-dee-doo came down to a  bbq and fireworks.

Period.

(Read, no parade.)

But in the late-1980s, thanks to the efforts of Joyce Allred (and friend Shari Flatt), the parade returned to its past glory. Now almost everyone in town participates, Main Street jammed with locals and curious tourists.

“If it weren’t for the tourists, there may have been no spectators at all,” Joyce famously said back then.

Joyce Allred, a Telluride local of 47 years and one of its finest, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025.

Joyce was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother to the Allred family, as well as a loyal friend to many and a treasured and very big player in the Telluride community.

Joyce’s family has established a memorial fund at the Telluride Foundation to celebrate her life and continue her legacy of giving. Should you choose to honor Joyce and donate, please use the “Note” or “Comment” field to indicate which of the two causes closest to her heart you want your funds to enhance:Workforce Housing or the Telluride Medical Center.

Read on for more about Joyce Allred.

Joyce with son-in-law Mark Huffstutler, who piloted the flyover on the 4th of 2018. Rumor has it he failed to tell his passenger he planned to do aerobatics while she was on board. (Wheee!)

He came.

He saw.

She conquered.

Back in 1978, when Ron and his business partner Jim Wells were busy transforming 3.5 square miles of land on what was once sheep ranches into a world-class ski resort, the love on Ron’s life, Joyce, was less than happy.

The Telluride she found, her new home under protest, had collapsed in the late-1970s after the 100-year-old mining industry closed its doors. Half of Main Street was boarded up and people were high-tailing it out of town, all muttering darkly under their breath.

Including, as we mentioned, Joyce.

The Wedding, 1977, Ron & Joyce.

The “babe” with baby Kim (who was about 6 here).

The happy couple – again.

And again, this time on safari..

However it did not take long for the lady to change her tune – and the town along with it.

Joyce was, after all, a lemonade-from-lemons kind of gal.

A short list of Joyce Allred’s accomplishments, in no particular order, include:

• Founding a women’s network to help newbies matriculate.

• And a garden club.

• Back in the mid-1990s, making top-tier dance possible by supporting Joffrey superstar Valerie Madonia in her efforts to bring ballet to Telluride’s Opera House.

Shari Flatt, Valerie Madonia, & Joyce.

• Planting trees to bring some green to Town’s dusty brown streets.

• Creating a home tour to raise money to support Telluride’s revitalization (as above).

• Even getting the Town of Telluride to purchase its first street sweeper –  afterward aptly named, “The Joyce.”

• And bringing (as mentioned above) the Fourth of July parade back to its former Rockwell glory.

Joyce and Shari: “Look what we started in 1989.”

All that while shepherding a very large family.

Family gathering in Tubac Arizona one Thanksgiving.

Among the many toasts given at the afternoon gathering celebrating Joyce’s 80th back in 2018, the following was written by Joyce’s lovely daughter Kim Fulton Huffstutler. It was and remains a short and very sweet summary of this extraordinary woman’s life.

Joyce with daughter Kim at her 80th.

Joyce’s 80th. About 100 of her closest friends in attendance.

There once was a gal named Joyce
Throughout her life a ‘First Choice’
It started in Florence with Tom and Fran
Now she is Eighty with Ron and the Clan.

When in high school, then known as ‘Legs’
She twirled her baton and followed the regs
Was top of her class and a fashion plate
Keeping up with her now-hey Ron ain’t that great!

Off to Pueblo with Charlotte (her best friend)
For gainful employment and to meet nice young men
The next thing we know, along came Doyle
And several years later a little turmoil- ‘end of Doyle’

Two children to raise in those hectic days
She got into real estate ‘that was the craze’
A
nd wouldn’t you know she went right to the top
She was awarded Top Salesman – her achievements won’t stop

Though Ron now gets credit for real estate coups
I
t’s Joyce with the talent (note early clues)
Top salesman then, boy life was great
It was an Avon-Colo. Springs ride that changed her fate

After chasing Ron for over a year
They finally got married and he brought her here
(almost end of Ron)
It took her a while to conform and adjust
But now she’s a legend and stay here she must

She entertains well; she pretties the town
But out-skiing Ron is why she’s renowned
She’s so busy here it’s hard to stay sane
So she goes off to Maui where she can raise cane

With 52 in the family to organize and feed
Full time help in the kitchen is a number one need
But she does it herself and she does it so well
How she gets it all done – she never will tell

Well Mom…

Now you’re eighty but you’ve still got the touch
And we’re gathered today cause we love you so much!!!

And fair to say, seven years later, those who knew Joyce still do.

Resurrecting that old trope about a picture being worth a thousands words, check out a few other key moments and key peeps in Joyce Allred’s very full, very rich, very blessed life:

Telluride friends.

With Ock & Joanie (best friends forever)

Joyce’s bridge friends.

Grandkids & Greats.

Great grandkids.

With family on Main Street.

Ladies wine-ing!

Tom Fulton & family

Kim Fulton & family

Joyce & nephew Sean at one Fourth of July celebration. Sean majorly contributed to this tribute.