Joy Laverne Savage

Memorial Services for Joy Laverne Herrin Savage, 87, of Longview, Texas, will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Woodland Hills Baptist Church.
Joy Laverne Herrin Savage lived a lot of life in the dash between birth and death. She was the mother of three children, Diane Elizabeth Rutledge – who proceeded her in death, Ron Savage and Scott Savage. Her love for her children was fierce, selfless, and always evident. She and her daughter-in-law, Michele Savage, were very close. Their relationship was so much more, and her love for Michele was unquestioned. The love of her grandchildren was pure and unquestioning. She loved them more than words can even express. Her grandchildren are Noah Savage (Abigail), Alex Savage (Celine), Taylor Savage, and Hannah Savage (Stephen). Joy was head over heels in love with her three great-grandchildren, Rory Savage, Theo Savage-Odom, and Milo Savage.
More than Joy's family, she loved God most of all. He was ever present in every relationship, friendship, decision, and every other aspect of her life. You would never meet a more fervent prayer warrior. If you knew nothing else in life, you would always know that she was lifting you up in prayer, asking God to protect you, to lead you, to carry you in every situation.
Joy was a Registered Nurse for more than 20 years. This was a career she started late in life, but she loved it and would have continued for much longer if her health had allowed. She learned to drive just so she could attend college and be able to drive herself back and forth to work. She learned to drive – she did not learn to drive well. It was well known that you should be her driver, not her passenger.
Joy not only raised her 3 children, she also raised one Grandson, Justin Rutledge, while working full time as a nurse. She took her vacation time to take care of her grandson Noah so his parents could spend time together. She took care of her grandsons, Taylor Savage and Alex Savage, as often as she could. Her granddaughter, Hannah Savage, remembers fondly the time she would stay with her and she would fry a pound of bacon and cut bologna up like a pizza – two of Hannah's favorites.
Joy was very close to and loved well by her cousin, Gary Loveless, and his wife, Stephanie. She spent many hours at their family farm in Gilmer, Tx. She loved to spend time in their company and was very grateful for it. Everyone who knew her knew she loved them. We, her immediate family, are thankful for everything that you did for her and the time you devoted to her.
In her later years, after retirement, Joy moved to Eden Place Apartments, where she made many close friends who became like family. She became involved with the Resident Board and was even President at some point. She then lived at Evergreen at Longview townhomes, which she loved. She was so comfortable there, and it always felt like home to her. She loved the staff and the friends she made there as well.
Her final earthly home was at Treviso Transitional Care in Longview, TX. She was well cared for, and her family is thankful to the staff for their care of her.
She is now in her Heavenly Home, the place she always knew she would be. She is now with Jesus. She was welcomed by her wonderful parents whom she longed to see again, Oren and Helen Phillips, her sisters, Carolyn McDougal and Linda Bundick, her daughter, Diane Kidd, and her grandson, Justin Rutledge. There were many other friends and family members who welcomed her as well.
The loss the family feels is soothed knowing that Joy is where she belongs and is now free from a broken body that no longer allowed her to do the things she loved. She is no longer in pain or confined to a bed. She is free, and we know she is dancing!
Please visit Joy's online registration book at www.mcwhorterfh.com to leave a memory for the family.