Joe was born June 19, 1949 to Annie Laura Phelps and Danny Dexter Carley in Dickens, Texas. He was the youngest of four brothers, Dexter, Conway, and Kenneth. He went to Tarleton State University and earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology and was hired as a Medical Technologist. He was employed by Metpath Labs and then Harris Hospital where he worked until 2019 when he retired.
He married Laura Liska in 1980 and they had one child, Sarah Lillian. He and Laura divorced in 1994. Joe was a devoted father and grandfather.
He leaves behind his daughter, Sarah; his granddaughter, Bailey; and many family members.
