Joy Elliott

JOY ANN ELLIOTT, 82 of Decatur, IL passed away at 9:07 A.M. on Monday, May 4, 2015 at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the Maranatha Assembly of God, 555 W. Imboden Dr. in Decatrur, IL. Pastor Doug Lowery will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the memorial service.

Joy was born on April 30, 1933 in Decatur, IL. She was a daughter of Russell Dale and Eileen Mary Jane (Guysinger) Walker. She married Gordon Roy Elliott on October 5, 1950 in Randolph County, AR. He passed away on November 19, 1997.

Joy is survived by one son, Tim J. Elliott of Texas; one granddaughter, Misty Marie Elliott of Decatur, IL, one grandson, Anthony “Tony” Lee Elliott of Bethany, IL; three great-grandchildren, Marie Ann, Christian Isaac and Cheryl Lynn Easterling; one brother, Dale L. Walker and his wife Alice (McCord) Walker of El Paso, TX and niece, Dianne L. Walker and nephews, Eric P. Walker, Christopher D. Walker, Michael S. Walker and John R. Walker all of Texas.

Joy was preceded in death by her father, Russell Walker, her mother, Eileen Hall, her husband, Gordon Roy Elliott and a son, Richard Lee Elliott.

Joy loved to travel and sightsee, especially to enjoy the natural beauty of our country, and experience those moments with her closest family and friends. She also had fun antiquing with her late husband, Gordon, and they always made an adventurous day out of it. Joy had a gift for crocheting and baking and used these talents to bless others time and again. She was also a cat lover and they were her constant companions.

Joy never knew a stranger; she invested her time building relationships with people. Her name fit her as she made many friends very easily. Some of those cherished friendships lasted several generations.

Joy loved her family members unconditionally, and nurtured three generations. They were her world. She loved soaking up news of her family in Illinois and news of her brother’s family in Texas. She kept what she called a "brag book" in her purse to show everyone pictures of them. This is the legacy of love that she has left behind for the best of us to emulate.

The family would like to thank all of the DMH doctors, nurses, chaplains, and staff for the exceptional care given Joy through her transition from this life to eternal life. We would also like to thank the pastors, staff, and congregation at Maranatha Assembly of God for their faithfulness in visiting, calling, and praying for her and her whole family. Our family would also like to thank all the friends and family who came up to see her, sent cards, brought gifts, called, and prayed throughout this challenging time in her life. We would also like to thank St. Mary's and St. John's Home Health for the gentle, kind care she received while she was there. All the people who reached out were the hands and feet of Jesus to her. God bless you all for being a blessing to us.

Memorials may be made to Maranatha Assembly of God, DMH hospital, or Paralyzed Veterans of America.