Joy Lou Gill

Born on February 27, 1934, in Putnam, Oklahoma, Joy was the daughter of Marion and Gertie (Dillmon) Likes. She was one of nine children, the second youngest and, in recent years, the last surviving sibling.

Though she stood just under five feet tall, Joy proved that heart matters more than height. She proudly played basketball during her high school years, demonstrating the determination and spirited personality that would define her throughout her life. Following graduation, she attended Southwestern State College in Weatherford before earning her teaching certificate in Early Childhood Education from Bethany Nazarene College.

Through a mutual friend, Joy met the love of her life, James E. Gill. The two were married on September 30, 1955, beginning a beautiful partnership that spanned more than seventy years. Together they built their home in Bethany where they raised five children and created a home that became the gathering place for family and friends.

Joy's career reflected her nurturing heart. She taught in the Putnam City School District, owned and operated her own daycare, and, alongside James, owned Warr Acres Florist for five years. She had a remarkable gift for floral design, creating beautiful arrangements that reflected both her creativity and attention to detail.

To know Joy was to know joy itself. She truly was the life of the party and the hostess with the mostest. Family and friends always knew they would be welcomed into her home with a delicious home-cooked meal, warm hospitality, and plenty of laughter. She had a gift for making everyone feel like family, and countless memories were made around her table.

She enjoyed collecting Coca-Cola memorabilia, cheering on her beloved Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma City Thunder, and watching tennis. Ironically, despite not liking the water, she treasured the countless family trips to Lake Tenkiller because they meant spending time with the people she loved most. She and James were faithful members of Bethany First Church, where their faith remained an important foundation throughout their lives.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents, Marion and Gertie (Dillmon) Likes; her sons, Jimmie Gill and Johnnie Gill; seven sisters and one brother.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her devoted husband, James E. Gill; her children, Jamie Ross and husband Ben, Jonie Nalley and husband Jim, and Jack Gill; her grandchildren, Rachel and Linh Nguyen, Justin Nalley, Jimmy Nalley, Jana and Luke Rollins, Julie and David Snyder, Jenny Gill and Jaden Gonzales, Josh Gill, and Jesse and Calin James; her great-grandchildren, Hannah, Cruz, Josiah, Jayden, Zoey, Kevin, Ellianna, and Jace; along with a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

Joy's greatest legacy was not found in the flowers she arranged, the classrooms she taught, or the meals she prepared, it was found in the family she loved so fiercely and the countless lives she touched through her kindness, generosity, and joyful spirit. Her warmth filled every room she entered, and her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, at Bill Merritt Funeral Service.