Joy Joan Golliver

Joy Joan (Gadbury) Golliver

It is with a heavy heart that our family announces the passing of our beautiful mother Joy. Her spirit was always positive and filled with joy. We are grateful for the wisdom, compassion, and kindness she shared with her family and dedicated to her community.

Joy Golliver passed away on Saturday October 26, 2024, at the age of 89. Joy was born in Muncie, Indiana in 1935. She attended Burris High School and was active with her graduating class during reunions over the years. She attended Florida Southern College as a member of Alpha Chi Omega.

Today we celebrate her lasting impact on so many people's lives. An advocate of the homeless, an author, speaker, entrepreneur, awesome mother, grandmother, and wonderful wife. She joins our father Bob in heaven who passed away in 2010.

Bob and Joy were high school sweethearts. They first met in the third grade and were married for 55 years. They loved to travel, loved to dance and throw parties for their friends. Joy and Bob made their home in Bellevue and later moved to Queen Anne, Lake Kachess, and Tucson. Joy returned to the Seattle area in 2021.

Joy often shared the quote "The meaning of life is to find your gift; the purpose of life is to give it away." This quote perfectly captured her true spirit. Joy loved celebrating every season but especially the Fall. Joy and Bob hosted an annual Halloween party where couples were dressed in matching costumes and the neighborhood kids were treated to a haunted house (our garage) before collecting their treats.

Joy started collecting Santa Clauses from around the world with the birth of her first child. Her Santa Clause collection grew to over 900 Santa's and was featured on two local and one national TV program. The Santas were shared every year while on display in their Lake Kachess home.

Along with her husband Bob, CEO of Washington Natural Gas (later Puget Sound Energy) the two were perfect hosts for friends, businesspeople, and leaders from around the world. She was also an adventurer visiting all 50 states, spending time outdoors in many National Forests, and even taking a cross-country camping trip with her three children (all under 15 years of age) from Seattle to Florida and back one summer. Such an amazing Mom!

Through the years, Joy was an active volunteer on several charitable boards including the United Way of King County, YWCA, Totem Girl Scout Council and several more. Joy was a businesswoman founding The Golliver Group, Ignite the Community Spirit, and the Touched by Joy Foundation. She wrote several books including: Ignite the Community Spirit, 300 Creative Ideas for Community Involvement; I CAN Ignite the Community Spirit; Self Care for Caregivers: The Most Important Person in the Experience is YOU; Self Care for Caregivers: 161 Tips To Make Your Life Easier; and I CAN Ignite the Community Spirit: 301 Ways to Turn Caring into ACTION!

Joy is survived by her sister Jill Goodson Beggs; three children, Pam (Heath) Carnes, of Aurora CO, Guy (Margaret) Golliver, and Greg (Terri) Golliver both of Seattle; and five adult grandchildren, Kaitlin, Dylan, Madeline, Calvin, and Sara. A celebration of Life ceremony will be scheduled for spring of 2025.

We will miss her dearly. Cheers Mom, to a life well lived!

Greg, Pam and Guy

In keeping with Joy's passion for education, memorials may be sent to The Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund which was established in 1974 to provide financial assistance to students in their senior year who have overcome significant life challenges to obtain a high school diploma and who might not ordinarily be considered for a higher education scholarship. Please make contributions in memory of Joy J. Golliver to The Seattle Schools Scholarship Fund