Joy Elaine (Zevely) Walker

Services for Joy Elaine (Zevely) Walker will be 2:00 pm Tues., Dec. 7th, 2010 at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Tulsa, OK where she has been a member since 1967. Burial will follow in her hometown, Claremore, at Woodlawn Cemetery. Friends may visit in Claremore on Sun., Dec. 5th, from noon to 4pm at Rice Funeral Service or Mon., Dec. 6th, from 2:00 to 8:00 pm at Fitzgeralds Southwood Colonial Chapel in Tulsa.

Joy passed away Thursday, Dec. 2nd. She was 73.

Born June 25th, 1937 in Claremore to OC and Velma (Wright) Zevely, Joy was reared and educated in her birth community. A 1955 graduate of Claremore High School, Joy continued her education first at Phillips University, and then later at Northeastern State University where she received her bachelors degree in speech pathology. Always a promoter of continuing education, Joy did graduate studies at both The Univeristy of Kansas and The University of Tulsa.

She began her teaching career at Okmulgee Tech. She also taught school in Topeka, Kansas, Oologah and Tulsa Public Schools, retiring in 1994 after 27 years of service. In the late 1970s, Joy began dabbling in real estate. This new found passion quickly turned into a second career. She was driven to match not just people with houses, but families with homes. As a result, she had many repeat customers and made numerous lifelong friends throughout her 30+ years selling real estate.

Joy met the love of her life during her years at NSU. She and Jim Walker were married in a ceremony in Claremore in November of 1966 and together they raised three children. Both Jim and Joy were employees of Tulsa Public Schools and were true proponents of public education. In addition to her devotion to family, Joy was commited to the community through her volunteer work. This commitment was demonstratated through her work with the Tulsa Chapter of the March of Dimes where she served as Chairman of the Board. She also gave her time to the Tulsa Garden Center, The German American Society and to her church.

Joy and Jim were world travelers who chaperoned youth trips to Europe. She especially enjoyed opportunities to share her love of travel with her children and grandchildren.
This wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend will be missed by all who knew her.

Those family members that survive include her husband Jim, of their home in Tulsa; children David Walker of Tulsa, Leigh Booth and husband John of Oklahoma City and Anne McElwain and husband Allen of Claremore; her grandchildren Emily, Erin and Elizabeth Walker, Walker and DoriGrace Booth, Zachary, Owen and Parker McElwain; her great-grandaughter Madeline Borchers; her sister Sue Lamb of Claremore, sister-in-law Marilyn Whittenberg and husband Bob of Muskogee and numerous nieces, nephews and life long friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother OC Junior, brother-in-law Larry Lamb and sister-in-law Nancy Walker.

Those who wish to honor Joy's memory may do so by contributing to the Tulsa chapter of the March of Dimes, 7146 S Braden Ave., Ste. 700, Tulsa, Ok 74134 or to Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2550 E. 71st Street, Tulsa, OK 74136.