Joy Marie Shirk

CARTERVILLE, Mo. — Joy Marie Shirk, a longtime resident of Carterville, boarded the train bound for Glory on April 9, 2010, after a courageous 15-year battle with congestive heart failure. She was surrounded by her loving family when she passed away peacefully at her home. Born on March 1, 1929, at her home in Neck City, Mo., Joy Marie Sidenstricker was the youngest of seven children born to Roy and Bessie Mae Lee Sidenstricker. Orphaned as a young child, she was raised by her loving foster parents, Ivan and Sarah Addeline Morgan Hendry in Webb City. Joy married her only love, Gene Shirk, on Jan. 17, 1945, in Columbus, Kan. They celebrated 65 years of marriage this year. They had four children, Jeannine Landreth, Dianne Hunley and Phyllis Hombs, all of rural Joplin, and Mike Shirk, of Carterville. In addition to her parents and foster parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond, Ralph and Gene Sidenstricker; and three sisters, Helen Sidenstricker, Thelma Thrasher and Erma Stratton. Her husband; four children; 12 grandchildren, Shelly Terry, Allen "Bunker" Dorsey, Rachel Hunley, Ramona Hunley, Eric Shirk, Buck Shirk, Morgan Shirk, McGee Stoller, Cassie Mathes, Kelson Hombs, Joe Spencer and Jay Spencer; and 22 great-grandchildren all survive. Survivors also include members of the Gerald Lewis family, of Carterville, as well as Vida Martinez, of rural Joplin, who have been lifelong friends. Joy attended Webb City schools as a girl and was employed as a cook at Carterville Elementary School for 20 years. She took great pride in working at the same school where all of her grandchildren attended. Joy embraced her passage to Heaven and had a strong faith and trust in Jesus Christ. She often told loved ones that Heaven was where she would spend eternity. She was a member of Faith and New Hope Church in Carterville, where she loved praising the Lord. Joy had a lifetime love for reading and was known for her wonderful memory. She was a valuable resource of historical information even into her later years. Her reading and poetry, love for her husband and family and deep faith were constants in her life. Her many friends and family will long remember her for her love and wisdom, her contagious laughter and wit and the sparkle in her beautiful blue eyes. We love you, Joy. We will always hold you in our hearts and look forward to the day when we see you again. Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Carterville Cemetery with Rev. P.J. Hutchinson officiating. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Hedge-Lewis Chapel in Webb City. The casket will be closed at all times. Memorial contributions are requested to the Faith and New Hope Church or St. John's Hospice Program in care of the Funeral Home. The family would like to extend a special thanks to volunteer caregivers Pat Wolfenbarger, Jennifer Gaddis and Sarah Southard for all their love and support. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hedge-Lewis Funeral Home of Webb City, Mo.Online condolences may be made at Masonwoodard.com