Joy Bennett Munsell Lytle

Joy Bennett Munsell Lytle Our daughter Joy Bennett Munsell Lytle, was taken from us unexpectedly December 28, 2007. Nicknamed "Jelly Bean" by her grandfather, J.B. moved through this life with a maturity beyond her years and an elegance matched only by the ballet dancers she admired and performed with as a young girl. It took two trips to Texas Women's hospital in Houston for Joy to join us here on earth May 7, 1981, but she quickly made a spiritual connection to it and to nature. The outdoors - the wind, the water, the hills - defined the way she lived and tied her tightly to her family and many friends. She grew up enjoying the shores of Lake Travis with her closest friends, her brothers and sisters. J.B. was always anxious to be in the water, hiking the hills and reaffirming nature as her space. Camping, snow skiing, visiting the Tetons and a family trip to Yellowstone National Park remain special memories. J.B. wore a smile and giggled all of the time, and instinctively saw the best in everyone she met. She will be most remembered as an incredible mother to her children, Jason Kole and Malia Storm. She spent her days with them and was an active member of a mothering program in Leander. Kole and Malia inspired J.B. to continue her studies. She talked often about how she intended to make education a centerpiece of their lives so was studying to become a teacher. We think she would have been a great one. She graduated a semester early from Austin High in 1999 and loved reading, epic stories and history. She began reading the entire library of Dr. Suess and Berenstain Bears to her children from the day they were born and never missed a night with them. J.B. had a family and extended family that will surround her memory forever, including her mother, Diane Bennett, sister Janae, and brothers Sean and Leo, her grandparents Ida Schonberg, Raymond and Jaqueline Bennett, Beulah Munsell and her great grandmother Blanch Bennett, her father Matthew Munsell and his family Cheri Stanton, Erica, Anna and Jennifer Hollingsworth, and her Aunts Uncles and many cousins: Michelle Tanner and her family, Anthony Bennett and his family and Mark and Bethany Munsell and their family. Joy was a force of nature who shared a strong connection with her Dad in the beliefs and ways of the wolf. She howled at the moon with her dogs Patch and Gidget and quietly, instinctively served as a guide for all of those around her. She was an integral member of the pack and will be sorely missed. Joy had an incredible sense of humor and was a lover of music yet an incredibly bad singer. She had beautiful blonde hair and a warm, welcoming presence, yet she never left any doubt about where she stood if the occasion called for it. J.B. loved beautiful works of art and was one herself. The family will receive guests at Laguna Gloria on Wednesday, January 2nd, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 3809 West 35th street in Austin. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome contributions to the Kole and Malia Lytle scholarship fund at Austin Community Foundation, 4315 Guadalupe St. Suite 300 Austin, TX 78705. Beck Funeral Home, (512) 244-3772