Lois J. Joy

Lois Joanne Hayes Joy passed away on her 82nd birthday at The Laurels of Athens on December 7, 2016. Joanne was born December 7, 1934 in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of the late Otis Hayes and Ivory Miller Hayes. She was a graduate of South High School in Columbus, class of 1953.

Joanne loved the piano, learning to play by ear at a young age. She would play Heart and Soul with sister Martha and still played her baby grand flawlessly even when Alzheimer’s took other memories away. She enjoyed gardening and would create beautiful flower arrangements from the flowers and trees she and her husband planted on their scenic farm in the country. She treasured her family, telling stories of growing up with her parents and three siblings in Columbus and visiting family and friends in Louisa, Kentucky. An avid reader, Joanne loved books about the Civil War and the South. She loved science and anthropology and met famed anthropologist Louis Leakey at a seminar at American River College in 1967 in Sacramento, California where her husband Major Emmett R. Joy (USAF Ret.) was stationed. An Air Force wife, Joanne also lived in Biloxi, Mississippi and finally Dayton, Ohio, awaiting her husband’s return from Viet Nam. Joanne was an executive secretary by profession, typing 75 words per minute and taking lightning-fast shorthand. Joanne worked in the Industrial Design division at the Westinghouse Corporation in Columbus. A beautiful young woman, Joanne also did some modeling for Westinghouse. Joanne’s last position was at The Vinton County Courier in McArthur. Joanne loved her grandchildren. They have simple, wonderful memories of spending the night at grandma and grandpa’s and then going for breakfast in the morning at Lee’s Steakhouse in Wellston or Mama Renie’s in McArthur. Later in life, her loving granddaughters Jenny and Jody took care of her like she took care of them when they were young.

She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Emmett R. Joy of McArthur; son James (Gloria) France of Naples, Florida and daughter Erin Joy (Richard) Griffith of McArthur; grandsons, Ryan (Diana) France of Dayton, Sean (Brooke) France of New Carlisle and Cameron Brooks of McArthur; granddaughters, Jody (Breandan Coombs) Brooks of Columbus and Jennifer (Garrett Betts) Brooks of McArthur; great-grandchildren, Levi France, Miles France, Mia France, Dawson France, and Jaden Macik; sister, Martha Hayes (Deale) Binion of Carroll and several loving nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Elizabeth Hayes Moore; brother, Bill Hayes and her namesake, granddaughter, Katie Joanne Brooks, with whom she’ll rest beside forever.

Private calling hours will be observed December 10, 2016 at the Garrett-Cardaras Funeral Home, 201 W. High St., McArthur with funeral to follow. Interment will be at Temple Cemetery, Albany, Ohio with Reverend Jerry R. Griffith, Jr. officiating.

All are invited to a memorial reception at the Herbert Wescoat Memorial Library at 120 North Market Street in McArthur from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The family suggests contributions be made in memory of Joanne to The St. Francis Outreach Center/ Food Pantry, 404 West South Street, McArthur, Ohio 45651 to provide food and clothing to families in need.

Please sign her online guestbook at www.cardaras.com