Joyce Ann Marley

She passed peacefully at home in Fort Smith, Arkansas, at the age of 69. Joy leaves behind her children, Ben (Shonda) Marley, Kaitlyn (Adam) Speck, and Amy Marley; as well as her grandchildren, Alex and Sadie McPartland, Jackson and Dominic Speck, and Elliot, Maddox, and Micah Marley. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe Ben Marley II; her parents, William and Eugenia Dale Wiley; her sisters, Willa Lincks and Kathy Baxter; and her nieces, Liz Morris and Elizabeth Baxter.

Joy was born on July 29, 1955, in Wichita, Kansas. She graduated from Northside High School and later earned her accounting degree from the University of Arkansas. She married Joe Ben Marley II on June 16, 1984, in Fort Smith, and they shared 32 wonderful years of marriage before his passing in 2016.

After a career in corporate accounting, Joy went on to own a successful tax business before retiring in 2019. She was known for her adventurous spirit, spending her free time hiking, camping, and traveling. She visited all 50 states and their capitals and later expanded her travels to Asia and Europe. After Joe’s passing, Joy embraced solo travel, joining a group of women on stealth car camping adventures around the United States.

Feisty, fun, and tough, Joy faced every challenge with grace and resilience. Throughout four years of battling illness, she never complained. Her love for her family was boundless, and she was generous beyond measure, leaving an indelible mark on those who knew her.

Her family is comforted by the knowledge that she is fully healed and in the presence of her Savior. Her legacy of love and faith will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 28, 2025 from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM at Edwards Funeral Home, 201 North 12th Street, Fort Smith, AR 72901, followed by a funeral service at 10:00 AM, and graveside burial at 11:00 AM at Fort Smith National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers or memorial gifts, the family invites you to honor Joy's memory with a donation to St. Paul United Methodist Church in Fort Smith.