Joy C. Storey, 83, of Marion, left this earth bound for Heaven on March 8, 2023, at 6:24 pm in Marion Health after a brief illness. Joy was born in Bedford, Indiana, to Kenneth and Ada Irene (Parsley) Hardman, and they preceded her in death.
Joy graduated from Bedford High School and married John Storey on November 5, 1960, in Bedford. He preceded her in death on August 12, 2022. John and Joy moved to Gas City and joined Jay & Swift Funeral Home. In the early 1970s, Joy attended and graduated from Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis. She was a pioneer in this field in that she became a licensed funeral director. This was a rarity in that day because the national average of women entering the funeral profession was less than two percent.
Joy attended Marion College (now IWU) and volunteered several years in the post office during her retirement years. She was also a member of Lakeview Wesleyan Church in Marion. She and John had opportunities to travel and took their family to 49 out of 50 states. They also traveled overseas to Greece, Germany (where they attended the Passion Play in Oberammergau), China (where they walked the Great Wall), Great Britain, Italy, and New Zealand.
Survivors include her daughter, Beth (Dr. Dan) Driscoll of Winston-Salem, NC; son, Mark (Molly) Storey of Gas City; six grandchildren: Tom, John, and Leanne Driscoll; Ava, Suzanne, and Heidi Storey; sisters, Jean Freels of Evansville and Lee Etta Mitchell Dustin of Kearny, AZ; brother, Dirus (Kathy) Dustin of Springville; sister-in-law, Becky Storey of Anderson; and brothers-in-law, Bill Miller of Mitchell and Bill Steininger of Colorado Springs, CO.
Joy was also preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Hardman; mother, Ada Irene (Parsley) Dustin; sisters, Kennetha Miller and Judy Steininger; and brothers-in-law, Rev. Everett Freels and Rev. James “Jim” Storey.
The family will receive visitors from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral & Cremation Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
Immediately following visitation, a funeral service to celebrate Joy’s life will begin at 1:00 pm with Rev. Mick Simpkins and Rev. Jim Sonnefield officiating. Burial will be at Grant Memorial Park in Marion.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the IWU School of Nursing, 4201 S. Washington St. Marion, IN 46953.
Memories may be shared online at www.nswcares.com.
To send flowers to the family of Joy, please visit our floral store.