Joy Storey DeShazo

Joy Storey DeShazo, 85, died at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene on Saturday, January 31, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at First Baptist Church, officiated by Phil Christopher. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Joy’s wishes were to be cremated and her ashes spread at the family ranch, which will be done at a later date. Joy was born in Shawnee, OK on October 26, 1929 to Samuel Farris (Bill) and Bera Amy (Primp) Storey. She moved to Kermit, TX as a young child for her father to follow the drilling in the West Texas oil fields. Joy loved life in this small town and had many fond memories of growing up there. In Kermit, she became friends with and later married Gary DeShazo on August 1, 1953. Joy and Gary eventually moved to Abilene and, as a team, they owned and operated Caldwell Music Company for more than 30 years. Joy and Gary were fortunate to be able to travel the world and saw many wonders that, as a girl from Kermit, she never dreamed she would be able to see. Among those most special were the Great Wall of China and the palaces of Russia. In the early 90’s, Joy and Gary purchased a home in the Blanco Basin outside of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. There they made new and lasting friendships. To her family and friends, Joy leaves behind a strong legacy of generosity, a love of life, a strong will and a fierce devotion to all those she loved. Surviving Joy is her husband of 61 years, Gary. She leaves behind a daughter, Donna DeShazo Schnitman and her husband Paul; a son, Gil DeShazo and his wife Holly, all of Abilene. Joy loved and was loved by her four grandchildren: Amy Schnitman Cochran and husband, JR, Kyle Schnitman, Storey DeShazo and Chase DeShazo, and a great-grandson Tom Cochran. Joy is also survived by a sister, Doris Stroud of Greenville, TX and a brother and sister-in-law, Billie and Blanche Storey of Athens, Alabama, several nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. Greeting Joy in heaven are her parents, a beloved brother-in-law, Rondal Stroud and many friends. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made in Joy’s memory to First Baptist Church of Abilene, 1333 North 3rd Street, Abilene, Texas 79601 and Meals on Wheels, PO Box 903, Abilene, Texas 79604.