Joy Lavonne White

Joy LaVonne McCoy White was born on December 10, 1935 in Denver Colorado. At the age of 2 she was adopted by Clayton and Bessie McCoy of Valley Falls, Kansas. Joy graduated from Valley Falls High School in 1953. She started working as a bookkeeper for Knox Veterinary Clinic during the day and at the Hatfield Drug Store in the evenings. After graduating High School Joy enrolled in Clarks Business College. After receiving her diploma in Accounting, Secretarial and Business Administration she was employed by Noller Ford for a year.

Joy then went on to work for the Legislature and then the Board of Agriculture where she met her future husband, Bob. She moved on to work at the Department of Administration, Division of Accounts and Reports and worked as Administrative Assistant to the State Comptroller, Roy Shapiro. Following Mr. Shapiro's passing she then worked for Jim Cobler for the next 27 years. Joy retired in July 1996 as an Administrative Officer after working for the state for 41 years. Following her retirement, her and her husband Bob traveled extensively visiting the lower 48 states, Canda and Mexico.

In February 1997 Joy then went back to work for the Kansas Foundation for Medical Care, working for 11 more years. Joy and her daughter Roberta bought a Curves for Women franchise in January 2006 which they owned until July 2016.

Joy's 6 siblings preceded her in death along with her husband Bob and her grandson, Keith. She is survived by her daughter Roberta; son-in-law, Steve; grandson, Matthew; granddaughter, Katelin; 5 great grandchildren, Kayliana, Noah, Ella, Denton and Charlie and one sister along with many relatives, friends and loved ones.

Visitation will be held from 6:00pm-8:00pm on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 at Penwell Gabel Funeral Home, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka, Kansas. A funeral service will be at 10:30am., Thursday, July 14, 2022 at the Highland Heights Christian Church, 2930 SE Tecumseh Road, Tecumseh. She will be laid to rest at West Lawn Memorial Gardens in Topeka, Kansas. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Midland Care, 200 SW Frazier Circle, Topeka, KS 66606.

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