Joy Ann Mills (Hartville)'s Obituary
Joy Ann Mills was born Joy Ann Drew, September 3rd, 1935, to Jesse A. Drew and Gladys L. Drew, in Newton County, Missouri. Resident of Hartville, Missouri. She is predeceased by her Grandparents, Parents, Siblings, and Son Jason Keplar.
She is survived by her husband Victor L Mills, 3 sons Fred Keplar, Leroy, and Jesse Mills, 3 grandchildren Josh and, Justin Keplar, and Haleigh Mills, one Great Grand, Child Ethan Keplar, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joy had a great love of God, she was well versed in scripture, and if you were looking for something in the Bible, leave it to her and she could find it.
Joy always said she was raised to be a farm hand; she was also the first of her family to attend High School. She completed the 11th Grade, married and gave birth at 17 to Frederick L. Keplar, she also had Jason D. Keplar with Richard.
Joy and her first husband Richard Keplar had followed the call to Boeing Aerospace for jobs in Seattle. Once Fred was old enough Richard made her get a job. She applied and applied for a job at Boeing. She finally got send for her GED, then through a battery of testing. She then got sent for drafting classes, graduating in the top 10 of her class, Boeing only hired from the top 10.
Her job led to her divorce from Richard, and then she met Victor and was married in April 7th 1970, and she had 2 Children with Victor, but he took Fred and Jason as his own.
Outside of family and work, Joy had a passion for Antiques (having her own personal museum), Gospel and Bluegrass music, Arts and Crafts, Painting, and her Sewing. Sewing brought her some of the most enjoyment, and she often had sewed much of the clothing for her family.
She had taken off work, to stay at home with the boys, once her youngest was old enough she went back to work, she had attempted to go back to work for Boeing in the late 80’s trying to update her skills with Computer Aided Drafting. She finally took a job with Heath Techna Aerospace, being an inspector for various aircraft parts, from which she eventually retired.
Joy had lived in many places through the years, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Washington, but when Victor finally retired from Boeing. She wanted to move back to Missouri. So she and Victor made the initial move to her final home at the end of 2009, and she has resided there since.
Memorials can be made to GOD'S STOREHOUSE through HHFH, P.O. Box 236
Hartville, Missouri 65667
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