Joyce A. ‘Joy’ White-Hensley, age 74, a former resident of Sedro-Woolley and resident of Altus, Oklahoma for the past 22 years, passed away on Friday, July 4, 2008 in Altus, Oklahoma.
Joy was born in Pocatello, Idaho on November 11, 1933 the daughter of George Llee and Florence R. Steed Nelson.
She was raised and attended school in Sedro-Woolley.
In 1949 Joy married Darwin R. Jones in Sedro-Woolley and they made their home and raised their five children in Redmond.
She later married Gene White of Redmond in the early 1960’s and they made their home and raised their two children, Christy and Kenneth. Christy died as an infant and Gene and Joy together raised their six children.
In the mid 1980’s Joy moved to Altus, Oklahoma, where she met Harding Hensley and they were married on May 26, 1988 in Reno, NV. They were married for over 18 years until his death in 2006.
For several years Joy operated several businesses in Altus until she began working for the City of Altus in the street maintenance department until her retirement.
One of Joy’s enjoyments was to go to the cemetery and place flags on the Veteran’s graves on memorial day and veteran related holidays.
She was a member of and attended the First Baptist Church and was a member of the V.F.W and the Eagles and auxiliary.
She enjoyed picking pecans from her own trees and from trees in her community, shelling them and then give them to her family and friends. She was known as ‘The Pecan Lady’. She also enjoyed going to garage sales and traveling.
Preceding Joy in death was her husband, Harding; parents, George L. and Florence L. Nelson; one daughter, Christy White; one brother, Bill Nelson; two sisters, Marilyn Brown and her twin sister, June Norman; one grandchild, Michael Jones and one great-grandchild, Todd Bauer.
Joyce is survived by her six children; Michael Jones, Pat Jones, Sindee Frost, Shawn Leake, Kellie Sinclair and Kenneth White. Two step-children, Rusty and Berry Hensley. One brother, Lyle Nelson and one sister, Jeany Smith. Thirteen grandchildren, Miranda, Joe, Brenna, Cory, James, Chris, Lindsay, Fawn, Joyce, Stephaine, Christy, Brandon and MacKenzie; six great-grandchildren, Brenndon, Shayden, Tanner, Adriana, Aiyana, Adian and numerous other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 14, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley. Interment will follow at the Kirkland City Cemetery at 2:00 P.M.
Hey mom it’s been to long I don’t need to tell you how life is going, this life is not worth living without you. At times it seems whats the use,I quess I found out who in the family I can count on. No one as you no- no one will help me,I’m not going to have a home by x-mas. I may never have a home, I miss you with all my heart and wish you were here. I’ll see you in heaven. I love you MOM