Joel was born on May 4, 1951 to Comer and Lillian Estis in Lucedale, Mississippi. He was 1 of 8 children.
Joel spent most of his childhood working on the family’s dairy farm in Howell Community. He attended Agricola Elementary School and graduated from George County High School in 1969. After graduating from high school, Joel joined the United States Army Reserves. He continued to serve until he was honorably discharged on December 29, 1975.
On August 6, 1971, Joel married the love of his life, Cathy Darlene Jones of Mobile, Alabama.
They welcomed 2 children and he continued in his love for dairy farming and raising his family. He was an active member of his church where he served as choir director and also worked with the youth group. He and Cathy hosted youth events on the farm. Joel loved working with young people and had a heart for ministry.
Along with farming, Joel was also involved in several businesses including landscaping, lawn service, nursery, and even worked as an insurance salesman in Houston, Texas where he and his family lived for 5 years.
Joel and Cathy, having always dreamed of retiring in Tennessee, moved to Nashville in 2003 where he worked in residential construction and later started his own construction company. He loved Nashville and made it their home for 16 years. He was actively involved in Grace Church Nashville. His love for music led him to singing in the choir there as well.
After receiving the devastating diagnosis of ALS, he and Cathy later decided to move to Mobile, Alabama in 2019 to be closer to family.
Joel was a faithful husband, a loving father, a wonderful grandfather, and a loyal friend. He was generous, outgoing, kind, and adventurous. Joel was a leader, a man of honor, and loved people unconditionally. He also enjoyed catching people off-guard with his silly jokes that had become very endearing to all who knew him. He loved his wife, his 2 children, his 8 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter, his family, his many friends, and above all he loved God with all his heart and he always put God first.
Joel always spoke of the goodness of God. He always wanted things to be peaceful in the family and for everyone to get along and be a loving family. Anyone who knew him has heard him say, “it sure is a beautiful day”!
Joel loved music and loved to sing, especially with his family. He often spoke of how music had greatly benefited him throughout his life. He loved meeting new people and finding out about their life, hearing their story, and making connections. After Joel was no longer able to work, a friend encouraged him to write. He began writing stories about meaningful experiences throughout his life and he wrote several poems as well. Joel loved horseback riding, doing stunts on horses, trail rides, gardening and landscape, hiking, and family bicycle rides.
We love him and will miss him dearly but we are so blessed to know he is in Heaven celebrating with no more suffering and no more pain, leaving a legacy on so many lives.
Joel is preceded in death by his parents Comer and Lillian Estis; brother Darrell Estis; sister in law Jackie Estis, niece Judy Lovett; great-niece, Deanna Estis, grandparents Paul and Ada Coursey, father in law Paul Jones, step-father in law W.T. Hewitt, Uncles Carlos, Lionel, and Benny Coursey; aunts Gladys Brubaker and Inez Gadrosich.
Joel is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Cathy Jones Estis; daughter Kimberly Estis Hataway (Jamie), son Kevin Estis; grandchildren Dirk Hataway (Maylin), Ashlynn Hataway Eiler (Peyton), Laurel Hataway, Emily Hataway, Seth Hataway, Lillian Hataway, Alechia Estis Covarrubias (Gustavo), and Kolby Estis; great granddaughter Emely Corrales; brothers Terry Estis (Linda), Douglas Estis, Gary Estis; sisters Carol Hinton (Bobby), Janet Jordan (J.V.), Sonja Carter (Freddie); Uncle Virgil Coursey, Aunt Eulice Driskell; loving mother in law Eula Hewitt, brothers in law Paul Jones (Karen) Tony Jones (Patty), Larry Jones and many loving nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
The Estis Family has chosen to have a private family service to honor Joel. If anyone would like to join though the Pine Crest Funeral Home and Cemeteries Facebook page.
The service will be live-streamed on Monday, February 8, at 2:30pm for anyone wishing to join the service
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