Linda "Joy" Wilson of Modesto went home to be with Jesus, September 2, 2023. Joy is survived by her children, Jane Dodd (Dean), Steven Mitchell (Sarah) and Candy Mitchell along with her nine grandchildren; Myranda, Paige, Caitlyn, Cody, Brianna, Grant, Jaiden, Abel, Ash and her four great grandchildren; Brian, Elisabeth, Magnolia and Peter. Joy is also survived by her Sister Gayla Walden, Brothers Billy Stokes, Allen "Hawk" Stokes, "Trapper" John Stokes along with Joy and Jim's dear friend Donald Peterson and Joy's closest friend Cathy Rowe.
Her granddaughter Hunter Joy Mitchell, her husband and love of her life Jimmy Wilson, her parents Troy and Sylvia Stokes, her brother Eugene “Butch” Stokes, her daughter-in-law Amy Flowers and her brother-in-law Mike Walden preceded Joy in death.
How do you summarize an entire life? Her childhood left her scarred but she wouldn't let anyone know it and never used it as an excuse. She wrote a book she didn't talk about, meant to help others. She could grow anything; her flowers were monstrous some years. She raised three children by herself for a large portion of their childhoods. She found work in offices or in nursing homes as an activity director, bringing new ideas to the job. Some of them worked well and some make us laugh to tell the stories. She became a licensed minister when she felt called to reach young people who might feel lost or alone. She worked as a professional clown for parties and loved to include her family. She would give us dirty looks or shake her fist when we teased her. We were never too old to sit on her lap. We would catch her dancing to Marvin Gaye or Bonnie Raitt, singing along with George Jones and Charlie Pride, some oldies and gospel songs. When she met and married Jim, she was singing Elvin Bishop.
She is described as having a "fiery spirit". She never held back when she had something to say and rarely backed down from a fight. In the last months of life, she spent less time standing up for herself and focused on keeping the people around her out of trouble.
When she gave you her advice, it is best to have thick skin. If she did not like you, she did not pretend to. If she loved you, she loved the hell out of you. If it was concerning her, she would have her way and that was that. We are going to miss her so much.
(It was a hell of a ride, Mom. See you on the other side)
A Memorial Service for Joy will be held Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at 1:00 PM at San Joaquín Valley National Cemetery, 32053 McCabe Road, Santa Nella, California.
Following the Memorial Service will be a Celebration of Life Pot Luck at 3:00 PM, 236 S. Santa Cruz Ave., Modesto, California 95356.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.wndfunerals.com for the Wilson family.
