Joy Martin

Joy Vian Kirschner Martin, of Sherman, Texas, passed peacefully from this world on February 11, 2026. She was born on June 16, 1933, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and studied English at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.

Joy lived in several beloved places throughout her life - in Florida, with her young family, later along the shores of Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and eventually in Sherman, Texas, where she spent her later years near family. Wherever she lived, she made a home that reflected her strong sense of beauty and occasion.

She is survived by her daughters, Joy Bolen (Keith) of Sherman, Texas, and Jinger Hayes (Steve) of Conifer, Colorado; 12 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, David and Audrey Vian, her dear son, Jim Frith of Houston, Texas, and her husband, Colonel Emmor Graham Martin.

Joy was a lifelong supporter of Living Water International, a Christian organization dedicated to bringing clean, life-giving water to communities in Africa. In regions where access to safe water is not assured, their work reflects Christ's call to care for our brothers and sisters, wherever we find them in need. She traveled there on several occasions, helping connect mission teams with local communities and projects she cared about deeply.

Joy's life unfolded in many chapters, reflecting a wide range of interests and commitments. She taught English as a young woman, later directed a church preschool, worked as a travel agent, and ultimately devoted herself to fundraising and leading mission efforts with Living Water.

She had a keen appreciation for what she found lovely. Her gardens, fields of wildflowers, and carefully collected antique dishes and glassware brought her great pleasure. She delighted in decorating for every holiday and season, and her home often reflected her enthusiasm for celebration.

Joy was also passionately dedicated to tracing her family's roots. She spent many years traveling across the country, following records and stories wherever they led, carefully piecing together and preserving her family's genealogical history for future generations.

She enjoyed hosting (and winning) bridge games, baking well-loved cookies and her infamous rum cakes, writing poetry and two books on faith, and serving as an officer in the Daughters' of the American Revolution. Joy was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Pottsboro, Texas.

Joy approached life with intensity and a clear sense of what mattered to her. She loved to laugh and had a keen, sometimes mischievous sense of humor that was a hallmark of her vivid presence. Those who knew her will no doubt have experienced both her quick smile and fierce determination firsthand!

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 21st at 1 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church in Pottsboro. Those who wish to honor Joy's memory may consider a donation to Living Water International (www.water.cc)