Joy truly came into my life at the most random time but I fully believe it was meant to happen. I saw her in a teams meeting with her camera on and thought to myself "I want to be that girls friend!". Our friendship started as just coworkers talking crap and helping each other through work problems but she quickly became one of the phone calls I needed everyday. She taught me to never settle and never give up on myself. She also taught me to "treat myself" because "you deserve". She educated me on things I was too scared to ask anyone else. She taught me not to take crap from anyone and to stick up for myself. 

She was there for me every single day as I navigated losing my dad. She was gentle with me and listened to my stories about him even though she never got to meet him. She even put his birthday and death anniversary date in her calendar so she could check on me during those times. 

I am truly going to miss chatting with her on the phone while she went to pick up her girls. I am going to miss her insight on my problems. I am going to miss the funny things she would send to me on Instagram to try to make my day better. I am going to miss calling her and getting her voicemail saying "Joy Walthour" in a voice that didn't sound like hers lol I am going to miss giving her crap about that too! 

Joy came into my life when I didn't know what I needed but turns out I just needed a little Joy :) 

In Loving Memory of Joy

It’s hard to find the right words to capture the incredible person Joy was. I had the privilege of working alongside her, and through our time together, she became more than just a colleague—she became a true friend.

Her kindness, humor, and unwavering strength in the face of challenges left an indelible mark on everyone who knew her. Joy had a way of making every day brighter, whether through her thoughtful advice, her infectious laughter, or the quiet, steady support she offered without ever asking for anything in return.

Even in her most difficult moments, Joy showed an incredible resilience that inspired those around her. Her spirit was a reminder of the power of hope, love, and perseverance. Though she is no longer with us, the impact she made on my life and on the lives of so many others will never be forgotten.

Rest in peace, Joy. You will always be remembered, and your memory will live on in the hearts of those who had the honor of knowing you.

With love and gratitude,

Shelby :)

While Joy started out as an employee, she quickly turned into a friend.  You can't know Joy and not love her! I told her daily that she had the perfect name, as she was so Joyous, even when she had to get sassy!  Over the past year and a half, Joy not only became an invaluable member of our team but also a true friend to many of us. Her kindness, dedication, and unwavering support brightened our days and made our workplace better in ways words cannot fully capture. 

It was so fun having Joy and Kenny to the house for a pool party this summer- you could tell she was the best mom. She always had stories to share about Ashtyn and Kenny and was so proud of both of them. Hearing Kenny ask for a snack and having Joy shoo her away always made me giggle and I told her to give that baby anything she wanted.  

She was also NOT the person to talk to if you were trying to NOT buy something. She was of the "Treat Yourself" school of thought, so I knew what I was doing when talking to her about purchases. :)

I'm so glad we were able to have one last conversation before she passed and I hope she knew how much I adored her.