JOY LAVON CODY

Joy (aka Joe for obvious reasons) was the last of 12 children born to E.L. and Oma (Smith) Cody of Casa, AR. Of necessity, he quit 6th grade to harvest lumber. His options were that, mining or picking cotton. Tired of cutting pulp wood, Joy sought better prospects in Chicago. He was on his own at 17 working in machine shops usually holding down two jobs at once. In 1985, after more than a decade at Crest Machine, he opened Cody Grinding in Elk Grove Village. There he sponsored many Polish workers for U.S. citizenship. He sold the shop 13 years later. Joy spent retirement buying and fixing old houses in Milan, TN. He took great pride in turning them into decent places to live. Although not required, he earned his general contractor's license. It took more than one try but that meant success was sweeter when it finally came. Joy and his wife also opened their home to several foster children. Joy worked hard all his life but did not seek riches or fame. He was not a reflective man. It probably never occurred to him that his interest in rehabbing homes and fostering kids grew out of being born during The Depression (1936) in an area ravaged by it. He understood on a deep level how housing insecurity affects a person, especially a child. Of all the titles he held the one he treasured was provider. His children came to him in different ways but he made no distinctions. He had room in his heart for them all. His warmth and compassion will be missed. He died of complications from Covid. He was preceded in death by his parents; 11 siblings; first wife, Darthy Gallimore Cody Duignan; and son, Jeffery Bullington. He is survived by second wife, Patsy West Bullington Cody; children, Janice Cody (Allen Wall), Delbert (Tamria Cole) Cody, Michael (Claudia Jeter) Bullington, Lisa Cody (James) Christman, David (Kim Weiersheuser) Cody, Landen Cody; daughter-in-law, Diane Moriarty (Jeffery) Bullington; grandchildren, Vera Wall, Emma Joy Wall, Jennifer Cody (John) Poyhonen, Kimberly Cody (Chris) Rimmer; Leslie Cody (Ryan) Crooks, Joseph Cody, Jennifer Alfter, Lynsey Dieckmann, Megan Bullington, Kaitlyn Bullington, Chelsea Christman, J.R. Christman, Connor (Becca Laker) Cody, Jacob Cody (fiance, Emily Berg), Lauren Cody, Emilia Cody; 10 great-grandchildren; and five foster children. Services have been held. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Adoption Center of Illinois at FRC.