Joy Lynn Mooney

Joy Lynn Cornell Mooney was born October 24, 1939, fifteen minutes ahead of her twin, Mary Beth, to her surprised, but ecstatic parents, Lynn and Hazel (Larned) Cornell. Joy was born in Stephenville, Texas and lived there throughout her early life. An avid student, Joy was valedictorian of the class of ‘58 at Stephenville High School and finished second in her class at Tarleton State College (1960), completing her bachelor’s at North Texas State (1962). She later returned to Tarleton, by then a full university, to add a Master’s in English to her educational resume. While at Tarleton, Joy met James Mooney. Proving opposites attract Joy and James became inseparable and married June 2, 1962. Joy was the innocent to James’ rascal and together they enjoyed nearly 60 years of Jeopardy, antiques, literature and genealogy.

Joy doted on her nieces like her own until James Mooney, Jr (Jim) arrived and completely captured her heart. Being a boy-mom was not natural to Joy, but her adoration of Jim forced her to learn about sports, sweat, and dirt. Jim fathered two sons giving Joy her best title, “Garm” to Cole and Garrett.

Joy lived a life of service. In addition to her decades of teaching English to high school students, she was active in her church and many civic organizations. Hundreds of Mineral Wells High School students owe their love of literature and ability to construct a good sentence to Joy’s teaching. The only area she was more passionate about than education was her church, the United Methodist. Joy was a staunch Methodist and grew up active in the church, the youth group, and the Wesley Foundation. She lived out the Methodist doctrine of “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, as long as ever you can.” Joy could be found creating a program for Colonial Study Club, chairing a meeting of United Methodist Women, attending a Retired Teachers Association conference, writing a newsletter or article, hosting the Red Hatters, or helping a young person apply for a scholarship.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Lynn and Hazel (Larned) Cornell as well as her brother-in-law, Charles Mooney. She is survived by her husband, James Dudley Mooney, her son, James Dudley Mooney, Jr. (Jim) and Kelli Stumbo, her grandchildren, Cole Dudley and Garrett Miles Mooney. Joy was beloved by her twin sister Mary Beth Cornell Baker and her brother-in-law, Ronald Baker and her nieces, Kimberly Lynn Baker Schnider (Vern), Diana Baker Freeman, and Ronda Baker, her sister-in-law, Patricia Mooney and nephew, Stephen Mooney. She is also survived by her great niece, Lynna Bartosh, great nephews, Blake Bartosh (Courtney) and Dustin Freeman (Britney) and great-great nieces and nephews, Walter and Winnie Burks, Dawson and Delilah Freeman, Kaylie and Kenzlee Bartosh.

In lieu of the flowers, the family asks that Joy be honored through donations made to the Joy Mooney Memorial Scholarship fund at MC Bank in Hamilton.