Joy will lie in state for visitation on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 from 1pm to 5pm in the Memorial Park Funeral Home located at 6969 E. Interstate 40 in Amarillo. A private graveside service will be held at a later time in her final resting place with Ken Cole officiating.
Joy was born on December 16, 1934 in Seymour, Texas to Floyd Earl and Thelma Rhea (Hayley) Chandler. She was baptized in the First Baptist Church of Seymour at an early age.
Joy attended Seymour public schools, graduating from Seymour High School in 1953. She married Roy Elliott in 1953, and together they had three children. She remarried in 1977 to Melvin Bachman and together they remained until his passing in 1999. In 2003, she would marry Leo Kirscht and together they also remained until his passing in 2018.
Joy worked for an attorney in Dalhart, and later would become the personal secretary to the president of Citizens State Bank of Dalhart. She retired and moved to Amarillo in 1994. She was a member of Saint Stephen United Methodist Church, and Covenant Sunday School Class. She served as receptionist for her beloved church for several years.
Joy was preceded in death by her parents, husbands Mel and Leo, a sister Earldene Hope Chandler, and daughter Rita Kim Butler. Those left to cherish her memories are son Mark Elliott and wife Shelia of Fritch, Texas, daughter Lori Walterscheid and husband Doug of Amarillo; eleven grandchildren, and many great and great-great grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials be made in honor of Joy Kirscht to Saint Stephen United Methodist Church fund to aid families in need of assistance, 4600 S. Western St., Amarillo, TX 79109.
