Robert (Bob) Eugene Joy

Robert (Bob) Joy, 86 of Abilene, passed away at Hendrick Hospice Care Center on October 19th, 2024.  A Celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November the 9th at 4:00 pm in the auditorium of Hillcrest Church of Christ

Robert Eugene Joy was born December 14th, 1937 to Murphy Avery (Mirt) and Leona Mae Leacock Joy in Hemet, California.  He had four sisters and a brother who died as a toddler.  When “Bobby” was about 3 or 4 years old, his family moved back to Texas where both his parents were raised.  He grew up in Lake Jackson, Texas near the gulf coast.  He was known as an athletic and friendly guy. He played football, managed the basketball team, and did photography and print layout for his high school yearbook.

When he graduated, he was encouraged to attend college. As the first in his family to attend college, he didn’t know what to do. So, he packed up all he owned in his 1956 Frazier, and drove to Abilene, Texas, where he had heard from a man at church there was a Christian College. It was while there he met and married Kathleen Lemmons of Brownwood.  Together, they would have many adventures, including being dorm parents, buying a home, adopting a son, having a daughter, serving the church, gardening, leading a Sea Scout Ship, sailing, backpacking, camping and so much more.

Upon graduation from Abilene Christian College, Bob and Kathleen both signed on with the Abilene Independent School District for a five year contract to pay off his college debt.  They both spent their entire careers serving the AISD in many ways.  Bob taught junior high physical education and coached junior high athletics, then moved to the Administration Building to serve as the Assistant Athletic Director for the school district.  While in this capacity he had the opportunity to oversee the Outdoor Education, Health and Physical Education, and Driver’s Education Programs.  He was also instrumental in bringing gymnastics to the AISD and hiring the first gymnastics coach, Jim McKinney, after serving in that position himself to get the program started.

During his tenure as a facilitator, Bob mentored numerous teachers, supporting them with his time, encouragement, advice, and innovative curriculum.  It has been said of him that he always found a way to make things better for those around him.

In the late 1960’s, Bob was given the opportunity to lead a group of teenagers in a branch of the Boy Scouts of America known as Sea Explorers.  They were sponsored by Bob’s Key City Kiwanis Club.  From 1962 to 1981, Bob led Sea Scout Ship 5 to learn adventure skills that they could use throughout life.  He took his scouts on many trips, including several sailing trips to the Bahamas. He is remembered fondly by many men and women who have gone on to enjoy sailing and camping and to share what they learned with others.

Bob and Kathleen were faithful Christians, spending decades with the Highland Church of Christ and later the Hillcrest Church of Christ communities. They gave generously of their time and assets to help people around them and the cause of Christ around the world.

Bob was plagued by rheumatoid arthritis throughout his adult life, but there are few who can say they ever heard him complain, and fewer still who ever saw him quit something because of it.  He was a master at finding a way to do something he wanted done.  He grew a magnificent garden and shared the produce with friend and stranger alike.  He created many devices and methods to allow him to keep working in his shop, which he loved to do.  He enjoyed traveling with his wife long after he couldn’t get into a tent anymore, first by getting a sailboat with a cabin, and later “camping” in an RV trailer.   Even after his beloved wife died in 2018, Bob strove to learn new skills so he could live independently in the home they built during 59 years together.  He was determined not to let the arthritis “win.”

Bob was preceded in death by his father, Mirt,  in 1957, while he was a freshman at ACC, then by his mother, Leona, in 1979, his sister Alice Faye, in 1992,  his sister, Marjorie, in 2004, his sister, Mabel, in 2006, his son, Paul, in 2009, his sister Virginia, in 2011, and his true love, Kathleen, in 2018. He is survived by his daughter, Karen Norfolk, son-in-law, Ian Norfolk, granddaughter Aubrey, grandson Quinn, and grandson Collin, all of Fort Worth. Also, by his sister-in-law, Marian Rowe, of Abilene, sister-in-law Carol Lemmons, of Brownwood, several nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews spread throughout the country.

Memorials in his honor are requested to be sent to Hillcrest Church of Christ, Meals On Wheels, or Hendrick Hospice, who all so generously supported Bob in his later years.

This service can be live-streamed through the "watch live" tab found at https://hillcrestonline.com